Ensemble

Laduma Ngxokolo for MAXHOSA AFRICA

Fall/Winter 2015

Laduma Ngxokolo founded South African knitwear brand MAXHOSA AFRICA in 2012. Ngxokolo became interested in fashion design as a teenager when his mother, also a designer, bought a knitting machine for the home. Ngxokolo remarks this move ‘changed my direction in life forever’.

The two pieces here offer fine examples of the distinctive patterns that run through MAXHOSA, with the confidence of design and craftsmanship dominating the look, emphasizing the Xhosa aesthetic. The black and white shawl, which can be worn in a multitude of styles and shapes, is the first garment that Ngxokolo made to be worn by both men and women. The black and white colourway of the garment brings out the boldness of MAXHOSA design through its inherent focus on the Xhosa patterns, which are reminiscent of Xhosa beadwork. Here, the shawl is paired with red shorts, which was modeled at the 2015 Johannesburg Fashion Week.

Victoria & Albert (Accession number: T.2432:1,2-2021)