Pierre Cardin featuring for the first time ever at SAFW
Pierre Cardin makes its South African runway debut as the 29th season of SAFW pairs established designers with a new generation
Johannesburg,– South African Fashion Week (SAFW) has announced the designer line-up for its Autumn/Winter 2027 collections. The main programme runs at The Forum, Hyde Park Corner, from Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 October 2026. David Tlale opens the week with an invitation-only offsite show on Tuesday 20 October.
This season’s theme is the hand. Global fashion increasingly competes on speed and volume. AW27 instead puts attention on the cutting, construction, finishing and surface work done in South African workrooms. SAFW argues that this skill sets local design apart internationally, and that it depends on investment in training from the classroom to the atelier.
“SAFW has always believed a sustainable, designer-led fashion industry must be built from the bottom up,” says Lucilla Booyzen, founder of SAFW. “Strengthening education and skills ultimately strengthens the entire value chain.”
A first for Pierre Cardin
The biggest news this season comes on Wednesday 21 October. Pierre Cardin will hold its first runway show in South Africa, under president and artistic director Rodrigo Basilicati Cardin. The same evening hosts the final of the Pierre Cardin Young Designers Award, which SAFW is running through its network of 24 fashion colleges and universities.
Shortlisted students will work with Basilicati Cardin and the Maison’s design team at a workshop on 19 October. The winner receives a three-month internship at the Pierre Cardin design studio in Paris. Internationally, the award has involved more than 170 young designers.
Emerging talent across the week
The focus on skills continues through the rest of the programme. David Tlale presents his AW27 collection and introduces The Intern by DT, a platform that shows the work of five young designers on one stage.
On Thursday 22 October, the New Talent Search 2026, powered by JC Le Roux, presents nine emerging labels:
- Blackfaces Apparel
- Fresh_Till_Ngoku_Merch
- Heru-Shezi
- Kelengende
- Martin John Bespoke
- Michael Peter Reid
- Ntwana
- Sihle Zanele
- Zour
Emelia D returns on Saturday as winner of the SS26 Scouting Menswear Competition.
Established names, new chapters
Several of the country’s best-known designers are bringing milestone collections:
- Black Coffee: presents Unfolding, in collaboration with Joburg Ballet.
- Sober Design House: marks 20 years with The Next Chapter, with footwear by Europa Art.
- THRRR…PHAAA!: presents The New Resonance.
- Colleen Eitzen: returns with Origin.
- Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs: presents The New Earth, a study of transformation and landscapes shaped by time.
- Thabo Makhetha: shows Eako, Eahao (What’s Mine Is Yours), with footwear and accessories by Tsonga.
- Irene Makhavhu Designs: presents Tshedza, which means light.
- Dali Ngcebetsha: explores Metamorphosis.
- Ephymol: introduces The New Jeaneration alongside The Rebirth of Slow Classic.
- Helon Melon: shows Helon Melon Always On, presented by Nu Metro Hyde Park.
- INSYD/OWT Creatives: presents Living a Creative Reality.
- Ana Nunes: shows her ANUNES collection, EKWIKWI – Soma Irene.
On Saturday evening, the penultimate show, From Field to Fashion, brings the ball to the runway. Gert-Johan Coetzee closes the season on Sunday afternoon.
Programme at a glance
- Tue 20 Oct: David Tlale; The Intern by DT (offsite, by invitation)
- Wed 21 Oct, 19h00 for 20h00: Pierre Cardin fashion show and Young Designers Award
- Thu 22 Oct:
- 18h00 for 18h30: New Talent Search 2026
- 19h00 for 20h00: Black Coffee with Joburg Ballet
- 20h30 for 21h30: Sober Design House; THRRR…PHAAA!
- Fri 23 Oct:
- 18h00 for 18h30: Colleen Eitzen; Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs; Irene Makhavhu Designs
- 19h00 for 20h00: Dali Ngcebetsha; Thabo Makhetha
- 20h30 for 21h30: Ephymol
- Sat 24 Oct:
- 14h00 for 14h30: Helon Melon
- 18h30 for 19h30: Emelia D; INSYD/OWT Creatives; ANUNES
- 20h30 for 21h30: From Field to Fashion
- Sun 25 Oct, 14h30 for 15h00: Gert-Johan Coetzee
SAFW AW27 is supported by Hyde Park Corner, BioMedical Emporium, 947, 702, JC Le Roux, Carlton Hair and NARS.
