The Grand Finale of the 2025 Proudly South African Local Fashion Police: A Celebration of Style, Innovation, and Homegrown Talent
- Thokozile Mabuza
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The 2025 Proudly South African Local Fashion Police grand finale brought the local fashion scene to a dazzling halt on November 27, 2025, in Sandton, South Africa.
This fifth edition of the competition, organized by Proudly South African in partnership with African Bank and the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA), drew an eclectic crowd of political heavyweights, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, fashionistas, media personalities, and influencers, all donning their most striking local designs.
The event marked a significant milestone, evolving from its humble beginnings five years ago, where four winners each received R10,000, to a prestigious platform honoring seven standout fashion icons with R50,000 worth of bespoke outfits from leading designers, plus a coveted runway walk. The journey kicked off in August aboard the iconic Blue Train, a truly South African launch that opened public entries and ignited the search for the year's champions. Complementing this, a masterclass series in Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town empowered fashion students and emerging talents with expert sessions on brand building, business acumen, and industry navigation. Throughout, Proudly South African championed a consumer campaign to rally public support for local labels, debunking myths and fostering growth in the clothing, textile, footwear, and leather (CTFL) sectors.
This year's adjudication involved leading fashion designers and household names serving as judges, with each selecting a favorite finalist from thousands of submissions. These winners proved that fashion transcends mere expression—it's a voice for the voiceless and a way of life, spotlighting South Africa's creative economy under the best imaginable lighting.
The 2025 Winners and Designer Pairings
From across the country, the seven winners embodied diversity and excellence, each walking away with custom designs that highlighted the judges' craftsmanship:
| Winner | Province/Region | Designer/Judge |
Each pairing not only celebrated individual style but also underscored the initiative's role in uplifting the CTFL industry through powerhouses like Madonsela, Khosi Nkosi Fashion House, and Asanda Madyibi.
Event Highlights: Runway Magic, Performances, and Insights
The grand finale was an unforgettable mix of fashion and music. Legendary kwaito stars Trompies had the crowd dancing and cheering with their classic hits. Then Lordkez took the stage with her smooth R&B and neo-soul vibes, getting everyone singing along.
Adding depth, Trendsetters Only captured exclusive interviews, including Khosi Nkosi Fashion House sharing their grassroots journey, and Asanda Madyibi alongside Mzukisi Mbane discussing the current state of South African fashion. The night culminated in a spectacular showcase of previous years' winners, reinforcing the event's legacy.
Trendsetters Only Insights and Outlook
As the media partner capturing the essence of the night, Trendsetters Only provided exclusive on-the-ground interviews that offered profound insights into the heart of South African fashion. Speaking with designers from Khosi Nkosi Fashion House, Madonsela, Imprint, and more, the conversations highlighted themes of resilience, cultural pride, and entrepreneurial spirit, echoing the event's mission to support local talent amid global competition.
From Khosi Nkosi's Nobukhosi Mukwevho (also known as Khosi Nkosi) and Thabo Mukwevho: "We've got a lot of competition out there, but let us support local. Let us support who we are and that is being African. We are Africans at the end of the day." They celebrated African Bank's 50th anniversary with a capsule collection symbolising audacious entrepreneurship, noting their Paris showcase, where they presented a cultural display of uniforms, supported by the bank. "We do acknowledge what you guys have done for our brand online," they added, appreciating Trendsetters Only's role in amplifying their story, including featuring them on the magazine cover as true trendsetters.
Mzukisi Mbane of Imprint, a self-taught designer turned international sensation, shared his journey: "I'm a self-taught fashion designer. At some point, being a fashion designer was not a realistic dream for me. So the fact that I'm traveling the world is just an extra." Reflecting on shows in New York Fashion Week and Shanghai, he emphasized sustainability, African contextualization, and business-minded innovation: "I have a lot of ideas that you guys are yet to see." Alongside judge Asanda Madyibi, he urged propelling local trends: "We can't constantly be looking at western trends when in fact western fashion is looking at us all the time. Africa must have their own look."
The Madonsela twins, Warren and Prince, rooted their brand in township resilience: "We wanted to turn township negativity into luxury... It's creating hope for the young kids from where we come from." They stressed being accessible role models: "Success feels like it's just a walk away. It's not too far." Their outlook? Fashion as a vessel for narratives, confidence, and community: "If our clothing does not make you feel like that, then we are doing the wrong thing."
Looking ahead, these insights point to a vibrant outlook for South African fashion: a surge in African-centric designs, sustainable textiles, international expansions, and grassroots empowerment. With platforms like Local Fashion Police and media like Trendsetters Only, the industry is poised to redefine global trends from an authentically local perspective, fostering economic sustainability and cultural pride.
Voices from the Industry
Proudly South African Chief Marketing Officer Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi reflected, “The grand finale marks a significant milestone for this initiative, which has become synonymous with the celebration of South African fashion... We are looking forward to the next five years of a bigger and better Local Fashion Police.”
CEO Eustace Mashimbye emphasized the broader impact: “Increased support for local fashion designers is critical as it has a ripple effect on the industry value chain in the retail, clothing, textile, footwear, and leather industries.”
Backed by sponsors African Bank and FP&M SETA, the Local Fashion Police 2025 grand finale was nothing short of pure South African creativity, innovation, and economic growth, a rallying call for continued support of local talent and a promising harbinger for the industry's future.
Comments