MUNKUS: From SA Fashion Week to New York Fashion Week | Drum

MUNKUS’ designs for Give Her a Crown and Jaguar’s #CrownCollection2024 at New York Fashion Week.

Very colourful, very playful, very MUNKUS!

Thando Ntuli has made her mark with her debut at New York Fashion Week, showcasing a collection that reflects her unique perspective and playful aesthetic.

Hot on the heels of her stunning South African Fashion Week collection, Thando surprised fans once again with her latest range. Think pink xibelani skirts, oversized fluffy earrings, floral prints, and fringes—hallmarks of her contribution to the Give Her a Crown #CrownCollection2024 in collaboration with Jaguar.

Inspired by the collection’s theme, “Shifting Perspectives,” Thando describes her pieces as a playful exploration of texture and sustainable materials. “I used a lot of recycled fabrics,” she says, drawing inspiration from her childhood memories. “The xibelanis remind me of my grandmother, who wore her Tsonga heritage with so much pride.”

Read More | Thando Ntuli seeks to empower women at SA Fashion Week with MUNKUS

This sense of home is a constant in Thando’s designs, resonating with the MUNKUS brand’s slogan, umtwana wasekhaya (child of the home).

When asked how she landed the prestigious opportunity to showcase her designs in New York, Thando explains that she was invited by a team member from Give Her a Crown to apply. From there, she became one of five designers selected for the campaign, alongside Gugu Peteni, Keneilwe Mothoa, Manthe Ribane Liebmann, and Tsakane Mashaba.

“I loved how each of us had our own unique style. There was space for everyone to shine, and we formed a strong sisterhood through the process,” Thando reflects. The campaign, focused on women’s empowerment and changing perspectives, originally started as a charity initiative to raise funds for the education of female creatives and high school students. With sponsorship from Air France, the designers took their work to New York Fashion Week.

Read More | Fashion designer Keneliwe Mathoe unpacks her latest collection and what it took to create

Thando notes the contrast between the fashion industries in South Africa and the United States. “In the U.S., there are so many networking opportunities. If people see your talent, they’re eager to support you. In South Africa, you often have to prove yourself before you’re given a chance,” she says. “But home will always be home.”

Looking back, Thando is proud of her journey from wanting to leave her corporate job five years ago to showcasing on a global stage. With a baby on the way, she’s open to whatever opportunities life presents—including the possibility of launching a kiddies’ line, inspired by her own little “munkus.”