MaXhosa Africa Presents IZIPHO ZABADALA at Paris Fashion Week SS25/26

MaXhosa Africa Presents IZIPHO ZABADALA / GIFTS FOR THE ANCESTORS at Paris Fashion Week SS25/26

South African luxury fashion house MaXhosa Africa unveiled its Spring/Summer 2025/26 collection, IZIPHO ZABADALA / GIFTS FOR THE ANCESTORS, at Paris Fashion Week, further asserting its position as a global ambassador for African craftsmanship and cultural storytelling through knitwear.

This new collection pays homage to ancestral reverence, a spiritual and aesthetic dialogue between the sacred and the contemporary. The showcase explored knitwear as a medium of cultural preservation and innovation, reinterpreting traditional Xhosa symbolism into bold, architectural silhouettes.

Each garment embodies a ceremonial rhythm: layers of richly textured knits, geometric motifs, and intricate detailing that speak to ritual adornment and spiritual offering. The vibrant palette of electric blues, deep ambers, ochres, and turquoise evokes both the vibrancy of African identity and the transcendence of heritage.

IZIPHO ZABADALA extends MaXhosa’s ongoing narrative of luxury through heritage, bridging the past and present in a way that honours African artistry while challenging conventional notions of contemporary design. The presentation, staged against an ethereal painted backdrop, balanced majesty with intimacy, transforming knitwear into a language of memory, gratitude, and cultural pride.

Following landmark presentations in New York, Milan, and Johannesburg, this Paris debut cements MaXhosa Africa’s global presence as a leader in heritage-based innovation and African luxury fashion.

Photographer: @dancarter
Lead Hair Stylist: @hauseoflino
Creative Lead Hair Stylist: @oummy_youssoufa
Make up Artist: @davidlenhardt
Stylist/Art Direction: @chloeandreawelgemoed