Thabo Makhetha's SS25 collection is a love letter to Lesotho's vast lands

News24

29-04-2025

Thabo Makhetha showcased at SA Fashion Week day two.
The collection is reminiscent of what spring and summer in Lesotho looks like.
The luxury label has baby clothes and more up their sleeves for the future.
Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana has given South Africa luxury women's fashion with a taste of Lesotho for more than 15 years.
The latest collection in her eponymous women's wear label features distinct patterns reminiscent of nature and shades of green and brown that represents Thabo and Lesotho's rich lands.
The hustle and bustle of fashion season ended after the South African Fashion Week spring/summer 2025 runway shows in Hyde Park, Johannesburg, from 24 to 26 April 2025, with Thabo Makhetha designs showcased on day two.
Redefining Basotho culture
After the show, Thabo gave TRUELOVE some insight into the inspiration behind the collection.
'I think, for me, when I do collections, you have to balance functionality and creativity. So, what I usually try to do is to have pieces that you could wear every day. But when you showcase it on the runway obviously you want to elevate it, you want to give entertainment and excitement. But obviously, we also see with our showstopper. That's the art and the craft of it that comes out.
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Thabo continues, 'That last piece really tells the story because we're talking about thethana, which is the maiden skirt that they wear. It's made from a grass reed and then they roll it together. So, we're taking that kind of inspiration and redefining it, making it luxurious, making you look at it in a different way; that's always been the point.
'This is Basotho culture but let's redefine it, let's take the story to the world. Let's get someone in Europe, in Asia, in America, wherever, being able to access our culture and tell the story behind it, not just wear it because it's fashion.'
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When it comes to the specific colours chosen for the collection, Thabo explains how Lesotho's luscious green fields brought alive by its rainfall made a big mark on her inspiration.
She says, 'With the colours I chose for this one, it's supposed to be spring/summer and I just thought in Lesotho when it rains, and the mountains are so rich and green and then the rain falls down and almost like on the slate and we see these strong blacks against the green. So, my colours actually just came from that idea of ha ke Lesotho, what does summer and spring actually look like.'
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For the people
Not only have Thabo Makhetha designs become popular across the country at locations like the Soko District in Rosebank Mall, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and Africa Arise in Sandton, but the brand dipped its toes into homeware with a limited edition tile range with CTM.
While Thabo is looking to expanding into homeware, for now she wants to focus on getting her designs to her loyal customers.
'I think I want to focus on getting the product to the people. I've got baby clothes – there are things you haven't seen because I sit, and I make up the stuff and you only see it now and again in moments. So, I think I want to get the stuff out to the people, then after that we'll start looking at moving out more into the CTM and following those things.
'But I think for now the call has been, 'girl, I don't have your stuff. You're not around, where can we find you?' So, let me sort out my tribe, let me sort out them first, and then we'll look into more collaborations thereafter.'
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To close off a successful show, Thabo leaves us with a few words of wisdom she would tell her younger self if she could.
'You weren't wrong for all off your stubbornness, for all the heartache, for all the doors that were shut in your face, you were not wrong, girl. And I'm saying to me now at this age, keep doing it. Keep going.'