Thebe Magugu presented his debut menswear collection during the Spring Summer 2022 Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence. This was the first ever runway show in our pandemic reality.
Thebe is a young designer based in South Africa, and his heritage strongly reflects his work. The designer with his Spring Summer 2022 presentation has also reflects on the troublesome politics both in his homeland as well as globally. The runway was close to a performance under the title “Doublethink”. Sartorial nod was mixed with a cowboy flared accessory. With model walking through a police station like set, getting up only at a sound of a whistle (see more in the video above). Yet while we can all read our own surrounding into Thebe’s set, he this time is referring to corruption in South Africa often reflected within the law enforcement. Magugu with the performance also applauds the strength and bravery of the whistle-blowers.
“In many ways, the societal ills the continent wrestles with stem from the insidious actions of its leaders. In South Africa, we have regularised the daily tales of missing millions and economy-controlling families. These stories become dinner-time anecdotes, which minimizes the devastating ramifications that corruption holds – from increased gaps in education and equality to the mismanagement of public goods and service, which often always morphs into violence. Corruption is a global issue, which defeats the ends of justice and deters a country’s sense of safety and trust. However, some strong individuals have said ‘enough!’ – the brave women and men who have come forward as whistleblowers, who have exposed the level of rot from companies and institutions both private and state,” shares Thebe Magugu
Renowned political cartoonist Jonathan Zapiro allowed Magugu to use for the collection some of his work. The designer explains his western cowboy influence as a tale between White Hat Heroes and Black Hat Bandits. The collection also shows for the first time the designers further morphosis into a brand setup, including TM brand insignia. And if you are thinking about those cowboy boots, the design is Magugu’s first shoe line.
Discover all of the looks from the collection in our gallery, but we strongly recommend checking out the video above from Thebe Magugu Spring Summer 2022 menswear presentation in Florence at Pitti Uomo. More in the gallery:
