South Africa has a long list of talented designers who never disappoint with their craftsmanship, Palesa Mokubung is one of them.
Launched in 2004, Mantsho is her womenswear brand that caters for sophisticated and fashion-forward women.
With 20 years in the industry, Mokubung has a long list of accolades and these are some of our favourites (in no particular order).
Becoming the first African designer to collaborate with H&M
In 2018, Mantsho made history when she became the first African brand to collaborate with Swedish retailer H&M. The elegant collection that celebrated the vibrancy of Africa with modern and edgy designs was available in H&M flagship stores across the world.
“This is my love letter to the world from Africa,” said Mokubung at the time. “I hope customers around the world will enjoy this ensemble of my stand-out pieces from my last three collections.”
Dressing Miss Universe
When Zozibini Tunzi was crowned Miss Universe in December 2019, everyone wanted a piece of her but only the best of the best could have her.
Just before the lockdown, Mantsho was named the lead designer at the Sun Met 2020 and had the opportunity to dress Tunzi, who had the longest Miss Universe reign.
Facilitating the Buyel’khaya Fashion Development Programme
In 2019, the multi-award-winning designer facilitated the 4th annual Buyel’khaya Fashion Development Programme Workshop where she mentored ten upcoming designers at her studio, teaching them about the business of fashion and how to create sustainable brands that can compete internationally.
“Everytime there is an opportunity to impart knowledge to young designers, I jump at it because I know how challenging the industry is and having someone to hold your hand can make a huge difference.
“This is an initiative that every province should consider. It is very important for young designers to showcase their work as often as possible because it prepares them for the industry at large,” she said.
That same year, Free State Fashion Week honoured Mokubung with a “Lifetime Achiever Award”.
Venturing into furniture design
It is in the pipeline for most fashion designers to add furniture design to their resumes and Mokubung did exactly that. In 2022 she launched a furniture and home decor division called Mantsho Lifestyle.
This came after she had partnered with Airloom in 2020 to create a must-have collection of rugs.
Mantsho Lifestyle is a brand that makes luxurious furniture pieces including couches, cushions, rugs, plates and so much more.
Becoming a judge on the "Battle Of The Ankara"
The competition, which features emerging designers from across Africa, saw Mokubung as one of the judges. Due to her experience and her contribution to the fashion industry, Mokubung’s voice in fashion always matters.
And as a designer whose brand is known for celebrating Africa through vibrant prints and elegant designs, she was the perfect fit for the job.
Collaborating with big brands
In 2023, Mantsho collaborated with several brands, including Isuzu to launch Mokubung’s autumn/winter collection titled the “Conscious Collection”.
Inspired by her trip to Portugal, that collection was important to her because it taught her a lot about sustainability and ethical fashion practices. Under the Mantsho Lifestyle brand, Mokubung also collaborated with Hertex to launch an interior decor fabric range.
She launched her first Mantsho Lifestyle Experience to give her supporters a full day of shopping experience, food, decor, music, networking and all the good vibes in the heart of Johannesburg.
This year, she has collaborated with Nedbank to launch the ‘Now More People Can Premium’ by Mantsho x Nedbank’s MiGoals Premium collection.
“This collection is designed to be more than just apparel; it's about enhancing the lifestyle of Nedbank MiGoals Premium account holders. We aim to make luxury and high fashion accessible, helping customers express their personal style and aspirations confidently.
“The collection supports a lifestyle where elegance and ambition go hand in hand, enabling our clients to present their best selves to the world," said Mokubung.
Mantsho has also showcased at several fashion shows, including South African Fashion Week, BRICS Fashion Show, Portugal Fashion, Dakar Fashion Week, GTBank Fashion Weekend and Africa Fashion Week Middle East.
