Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town once again opened its doors to the city’s creative community for the fourth edition of CONFECTIONS x COLLECTIONS (CxC). Over three days, CxC celebrated slow fashion, culinary artistry and craftsmanship, showcasing visionary collections by Pan-African designers, set against the iconic backdrop of the Pink Lady.
This year, CxC unfolded through three distinct acts, each reflecting the theme of ‘Our Homecoming’ – a symbolic return to purpose, to self and to community. Together, these chapters wove the story of a contemporary cultural hub, celebrating Africa’s creative luminaries as they craft, define and shape the future of African fashion.
“This year’s edition honours Africa’s timeless fashion legacy – a legacy that has long nurtured cultural exchange, connecting kingdoms and generations. Our Homecoming represents more than a theme – it’s about returning to what grounds us: our culture, creativity and community,” says Brand Director of Belmond Southern Africa, Jonathan Lubala.
Co-curated with the sustainability-focused platform Twyg, CxC continues to illuminate the rich, interwoven layers of Africa’s sartorial storytelling. Guiding the journey, Master of Ceremonies, Seth Shezi, led intimate and thought-provoking conversations with each designer, offering deeper insight into their creative worlds.
Reflecting on the spirit of CxC, Jackie May, Founder and Editor of Twyg and co-curator of this year’s edition, adds, “We’re here to honour the vision and craftsmanship of contemporary African fashion designers, whose garments are masterfully crafted in Africa, for Africa, and for the world.”
In keeping with the spirit of CxC, guests were invited to enjoy an elevated edition of Mount Nelson’s beloved Afternoon Tea. Each act was paired with expertly crafted confections by Executive Sous-Chef, Vicky Gurovich, and Sous Chef Matthew Paulsen, thoughtfully echoing the ethos of the chapter it accompanied.
The opening Act, Soil, marked CxC’s first exploration of East African design with Yoshita1967 by Anil Padia. In turn, it marked Paris-trained Padia’s inaugural showcase in South Africa. In the intricacies of each piece lives Padia’s celebration of ritual, femininity and cultural fusion, honouring his Indo-Kenyan ancestry. Elaborate styles composed of hand-crocheted glass mirrors and signature silver bells brought movement, light and sound to each garment. Their delicate chimes danced through the air as models paraded around the runway, encircling the century-old fountain – a true sensory spectacle. “My work contextualises craft within the current moment,” says Padia, whose brand travels the hands behind every thread and every finished piece, celebrating the artisanship at the heart of each creation. He continues, “Yoshita1967 deeply explores the involvement of the hands who produce our garments.”
Act I continued with Johannesburg-based C O N N A D E by Shelley Mokoena, who presented ‘Hand in Hand’ for the first time on African soil following its groundbreaking debut in Milan. Mokoena channels architectural form into sculptural womenswear, crafting sensual, tactile pieces where structure meet movement. Abstract shapes were rendered in fluid, gauzy fabrics, resulting in contemporary and dynamic designs. The looks were completed with sweeping, statement headwear by milliner extraordinaire, Crystal Birch, adding a final flourish to the collection’s sculptural allure. Reflecting on her approach, Mokoena says, “Sustainability from an African perspective is a way of being that the continent’s designers embody naturally. My design practice speaks to the motif of hands throughout African spirituality and material experimentation through texture,” says Shelley Mokoena.
The second Act, Threads, saw Azzedine Alaïa Foundation x Orveda Prize winner UNI FORM by Luke Radloff reveal the true slow nature of garment-making and craftsmanship. Tailored pieces, reimagined through a distinctly South African lens, took centre stage, highlighting the meticulous process of hand-spinning thread into fabric. The fashion showcase was brought to life with a live installation by master weaver Tivane Mavuma of Barrydale Hand Weavers and soundscape performance by Muneyi, with the vision of the show supported by UNI FORM creative director Bee Diamondhead. “The collection speaks to emotional tailoring, encompassing the toll it takes to create with intention in our world,” says Radloff. “It may appear effortless from the outside, but we want to show the care and investment required to bring each garment to its finished form.”
For the third and final Act, Awakening, CxC alumni MAXHOSA AFRICA by Laduma Ngxokolo presented their SS25/26 collection, IZIPHO ZABADALA (A Gift to the Ancestors), marking their first show in South Africa this year. The collection gestures to a renaissance of vivid Xhosa prints, expressed through signature bold knitwear and intricate beadwork, joyfully reimagining traditional forms as contemporary statements. “I imagine our ancestors wearing these clothes,” says Ngxokolo. “We’ve evolved what they wore into our culture today, and they will be proud of how we interpret it for the future and showcase it to the world.” With their striking colour and cultural symbolism, MAXHOSA’s showcase closed CxC with a powerful and celebratory sense of heritage and pride.
General Manager of Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Patrick Fisher, shared a fitting final note before CxC concluded: “We are proud to continue to evolve the hotel’s 126-year legacy as a home for culture, artistry and Pan-African pride. Through initiatives like CONFECTIONS x COLLECTIONS, we bring together the continent’s most visionary fashion designers, creatives and storytellers to celebrate African design in our historic grounds. With the recent honour of earning Two Michelin Keys, placing 2nd on the Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 in the ‘Africa: Eastern & Southern’ category and top city hotel in the region, we remain committed more than ever to first-class cultural experiences.”
Through CONFECTIONS x COLLECTIONS, and with the opening of the highly anticipated THEBE MAGUGU SUITE in 2026, Mount Nelson continues to nurture meaningful creative partnerships, while championing African design and the stories behind it. As the showcase grows year on year, the hotel further cements its role as the joyful heart of Cape Town, where tradition meets contemporary craft, and where Africa’s most exciting fashion voices are welcomed on the world stage.