There is something quietly audacious about marking a retail centenary with a designer collaboration that feels like a cultural statement. Yet on 30 October, Foschini did precisely that, gathering 150 guests for an evening that honoured 100 years of making women feel beautiful, while resolutely looking forward.
Arrivals were welcomed to the impressive Zeitz MOCAA were welcomed by Anelisa Mangcu into an immersive gallery experience – a curated procession through Foschini’s archival campaigns and garments that quietly traced not just a brand’s evolution, but the South African woman’s relationship with style across a tumultuous century. Chairperson Michael Lewis opened proceedings with due reverence for both.
But the evening’s true punctuation came with the fashion presentation itself. Master of Ceremonies Anelisa Mangcu, commanding the space with the ease of someone who understands both fashion and occasion, introduced a film honouring “Foschini100: Our Stories”, before CEO Anthony Thunström, Managing Director for Ladies Fashion and Beauty, Robyn Wenlock, and Head of Business, Candice Fogarty, framed the RICH MNISI collaboration in terms that transcended commerce – “a meeting of minds and milestones,” as they put it.
RICH MNISI is a contemporary, multi-disciplinary brand based in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded by Rich Mnisi in 2015. Born from Mnisi’s desire to connect deeply with his Tsonga culture and heritage, the brand tells compelling stories through innovative design.
What followed was five summer pieces destined for retail and 14 couture-level works created expressly for auction. Models moved through the space to a live set by Lamiez Holworthy, debuting a new track produced especially for the occasion.
“I’ve always designed for women – for their strength, their contradictions, their stories,” Mnisi reflected. “Collaborating with Foschini on both of our milestones felt like extending that story to every woman who’s ever found herself in front of one of their mirrors.”
The 14 auction pieces – geometric motifs reimagined through Foschini’s century-long lens – were sold by Strauss & Co with spirited bidding, raising funds for Move Africa, an initiative working to end period poverty nationwide, ensuring girls gain access to menstrual care and dignity.
The partnership represents Foschini and RICH MNISI’s commitment to supporting local talent while making high-quality design accessible to broader audiences, aligning with both brands’ focus on celebrating and empowering women.
Availability
The Foschini x RICH MNISI capsule collection is available in selected Foschini stores nationwide and online on Bash.com.