Video: Nelson Mandela Bay Fashion Week
Star knitwear designer Ngxokolo, originally from New Brighton, closed NMBFW on Saturday night with his MaXhosa by Laduma collection, which included his award-winning shawl voted Most Beautiful Object in South Africa.
Ngxokolo said this was the first time he had had a professional ramp show in his home city and the fashion event at the Tramways Building from Thursday to Saturday exceeded his expectations.
“I was super-overwhelmed, I’ve never gotten that type of excitement in PE before,” he said.
“A lot of people express [their feelings] on social media but this was what I get in Johannesburg every time, so it was epic.”
Ngxokolo is also a judge in Threads, a national fashion business project, and will return to the city on Wednesday to announce the regional winners of Threads.
Fellow Nelson Mandela University fashion graduate Makhetha also started her label in this city before moving to Cape Town to expand.
She opened the NMBFW programme of 23 designers from Port Elizabeth and East London on Thursday with her new collection.
“It was quite exciting to be back home as this is where I graduated and started my business,” she said.
