🇿🇦Maxhosa

MAXHOSA: Redefining knitwear with a captivating Xhosa-inspired twist.

Embrace the essence of tradition and style in every stitch.

MaXhosa is a South African knitwear brand founded in 2012 by Laduma Ngxokolo. Born from a thesis project at the Nelson Mandela University, Ngxokolo wanted to create a ready-to-wear capsule collection that reflected his Xhosa heritage. He was inspired by Amakrwala, the tribe’s traditional male initiation ceremony that marks the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. Informed by traditional Xhosa beadwork patterns, symbols, and colours, Ngxokolo’s signature aesthetic is conveyed in his contemporary, graphic knitwear collections. Speaking of the future of South African fashion to The Hollywood Reporter, the designer explained: “We, and a lot of brands [in South Africa,] are about moving out of the curio space—where it doesn’t belong—and creating a more refined, elegant way of presenting ourselves. We are destined to play a major part in the world through music, fashion and design.”