No catwalk, no problem: how SA Fashion Week turned Joburg into a runway

Fashion without a catwalk

South African Fashion Week's Autumn/Winter 2027 showcase asked a bold question: does fashion really need a runway? The answer came in the form of libraries, ballet stages, cinemas and football culture.

David Tlale's Restoration collection turned the Joburg City Library into a dramatic show space. Between rows of books, bold silhouettes and richly textured fabrics met the building's historic atmosphere. The show also spotlighted young creators through Interns by DT, making restoration about nurturing new talent, not just revisiting creative roots.

When clothes learn to move

Black Coffee's collaboration with Joburg Ballet put movement at the centre. Jacques van der Watt's collection was performed by dancers, with choreography by Joburg Ballet soloist Chloé Blair, marking the ballet company's debut at SAFW in its 25th anniversary year.

At the Nu Metro cinema, Helen Gibbs presented her collection on the big screen, leaning into the idea that both film and fashion build worlds for their audiences.

Orlando Pirates brought football culture into the mix with Field to Fashion, drawing on jerseys, colours and pre-match style as part of the game's culture.

Each setting became part of the story, proving the spectacle isn't only about the clothes, but where and how they meet the public.

Source: EWN