The Best Fashion Icon shortlist at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards reads as a referendum on the state of South African style.
The Best Fashion Icon shortlist at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards reads as a referendum on the state of South African style — Bonang Matheba, Kim Jayde, Sarah Langa, Dineo Moeketsi, Nandi Madida and Nomzamo Mbatha among the names vying for the title.
What the list captures is a generation for whom fashion is no longer separate from enterprise, activism or screen — the icon is now a multi-hyphenate.
For the nominees, the carpet is increasingly a platform for brand and business as much as for design.
Being seen, in 2026, is only the beginning of being paid.
Zanele Mthembu writes on fashion, food, travel and culture from across the continent.
The South Africa Fashion Awards 2026 ceremony takes place on 3 October at Hotel, bringing together 21 categories of nominees for a defining industry night.
The South Africa Fashion Awards has announced the nominees for its 2nd annual edition — 21 publicly voted categories — ahead of the ceremony at Hotel Sky, Sandton on 3 October 2026, with public voting now open.
Iconic South African brand Iwisa No.1 has launched a designer search to mark its 70th anniversary, inviting a new generation to reinterpret a heritage staple.