South African designer Thebe Magugu showed his debut collection on Tuesday (February 25, 2020), a fall 2020 collection shown during Paris Fashion Week. All eyes were on Magugu as the winner of LVMH Prize‘s 2019 award, which established him as the first designer from an African country to win the recognition.
Titled, “Ipopeng Ext,” named after a neighborhood in Magugu’s home city, Kimberley, South Africa, the showed was staged as a photography exhibition in the basement of the Palais de Tokyo. Images were photographed by Kristen Lee-Moolman while looks were styled by Ibrahim Kamara.
Commenting on the presentation, Magugu stated, “This project, which takes its name from the township I was born in, is a look at the incredible people and places who inspire the work I do. Ipopeng’s histories and people remain unwritten and overlooked. The disavowal of everyday township lives, of powerful personal stories and of extraordinary achievements reflects this ongoing dismissal both in South Africa and the world.
“This makes Ipopeng Ext. urgent, substantial and deeply political. The fashioned photographs script the stories of the landscape, the people, their faces, experiences and lives lived, and the faith and community that holds them together.”
The unique presentation was staged using striking, large-scale portraits in a room with seated mannequins adorned with African masks. As celebration his hometown of Kimberly South Africa, Magugu’s collection sets the tone for greater representation of African designers and production for the continent.
Magugu’s designs are now available of LVMH’s newly launched 24 Sèvres shopping platform.
Enjoy a look at the collection and presentation below.
