Fashion career profile

Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is a South African fashion designer based in Johannesburg whose label uses clothing to examine history, identity and contemporary culture. Raised in Kimberley, he studied fashion design, fashion photography and fashion media at LISOF in Johannesburg, where he received recognition for his graduate collection. He established his namesake label in 2016; the label’s first collection followed in 2017. His ready-to-wear draws on South African histories and local craft while addressing an international audience. In 2019 he won the LVMH Prize, becoming the first African designer to receive the award. His professional work has since included collaborations with AZ Factory and Adidas, a Dior capsule and an exchange with Valentino Couture, all distinct from employment at those houses. In 2024 his first concept store, Magugu House, opened in Johannesburg as a retail and cultural space. In 2026 he expanded the concept with a Cape Town outpost at Mount Nelson, alongside a Belmond designer-suite collaboration. He also founded Faculty Press, an annual publication that creates space for emerging African voices. The profile connects his label, publication and collaborations without treating the latter as permanent roles at partner brands.

Role
Founder & Creative Director, Thebe Magugu
Nationality
South African
Age
33
Verified awards
1