How Monkey Shoulder Brought Whisky Flair to Soweto Fashion Week

The Soweto Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2025 took over the iconic Soweto Theatre in Jabulani from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 10, and let’s just say – this wasn’t your average catwalk. It was a high-voltage blend of veteran fashion icons and rookie visionaries, all wrapped up in a bold celebration of South African design excellence.

Established in 2011, Soweto Fashion Week continues to serve as a launchpad for designers to expand their reach in townships and tap into new, style-hungry markets. And this year? The heat was turned all the way up.

Monkey Shoulder Shakes Up the Front Row

Our stylishly lucky selves landed in the VIP section on Friday, thanks to the legendary folks at Monkey Shoulder. Yes, the whisky brand – and yes, they’re now making waves in fashion too.

The night’s designer roll-call was nothing short of iconic:

•  Blank Collection – By Fulu Rathumbua
  Streetwear meets soul. Think multifunctional, comfy, and runway-ready.
•  Imperium Stitches – By Mbali Maphumulo
  An all-black everything collection serving evening gowns that screamed power and elegance. Special shoutout for including models who challenge the industry’s outdated beauty norms.
  🔗 Check her on IG
•  Style by Ali – By Alison Versatile
  Sustainable and avant-garde fashion crafted from recycled materials. Trash to treasure, but make it couture.
•  Sun Goddess – By Vanya and Thando Mangaliso
  Award-winning. Heritage-rich. Luxuriously South African. Enough said.

Monkey Shoulder x BLANK: A Fashion-Whisky Crossover We Didn’t Know We Needed

The night also made history with the first-ever Monkey Shoulder fashion collab, and they picked the perfect partner in crime: Fulu Rathumbua of Blank Collection fame.

The result? A limited-edition capsule collection where “fashion meets flavour” wasn’t just a tagline — it was the vibe. Autumn/Winter threads infused with whisky-soaked edge? We’re still recovering.

Calling All Rebels: The Street Thread Battle Is On

Fashion students, underground creatives, and future icons – your time is now.

Enter the Street Thread Battle for a chance to:

• Win R20,000 in cash
• Collaborate with BLANK Collection
• Get mentored by Fulu Rathumbua
• Showcase your collection at Soweto Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025

Apply here: Street Thread Battle Entry

This isn’t just exposure. It’s a potential career launch into orbit.

Featured image: Qutty Clothing. Image supplied