Known For:
Great secondhand shopping; vintage- and thrift-shoppers, take note. A strong up-and-coming presence on the world fashion stage.
Shopping Districts:
- Braamfontein: Braamfontein is where Johannesburg’s cool kids go to hang out. As such, you’ll find a lot of fashion geared towards them such as streetwear.
- Sandton: Sandton is known primarily for its large shopping centre that carries high-fashion luxury brands. Drop by to get your fix of brands such as Burberry and Christian Dior. Also, make a stop at the nearby Nelson Mandela Square to continue shopping.
- Maboneng: Maboneng is located on the eastern edge of Johannesburg’s CBD (central business district). Head to Fox Street to get your shopping done at the myriad of stores that it contains.
- Melville: Melville is home to a mixed crowd of individuals, owing to the fact that it is neighbored by universities. In terms of shopping, you can find a nice amount of independent shops to peruse during your visit.
- Melrose Arch: Melrose Arch is centered around being a ‘live, work, play’ district. It’s home to many boutiques carrying both local and international fashions.
Specific Places To Shop:
- Dunusa Market
- 44 Stanley
- Convoy
- Heart & Heritage
- Sandton City + Nelson Mandela Square
- Market on Main
- 27 Boxes
Brands:
- Black Coffee
- Loin Cloth & Ashes
- Helen Asrat
- Marianne Fassler
- Thula Sindi
- David Tlale
- Otiz Seflo
Events:
- South African Fashion Week: “South African Fashion Week is the driving force behind structuring, strengthening and growing a consciousness of the enormous socio-economic value of a vibrant South African fashion design culture.” (per the website)
Fashion Organizations:
- Fashion Lab Africa: The Fashion Lab was incorporated in 2015 to dissect the business behind fashion through the use of a radio, television, and development center platform where the fashion industry’s growth and development is promoted and facilitated for sustainability and economic growth.
- African Fashion International: African Fashion International (AFI) was established to “propel and restore refined African fashion brands on the global stage”. AFI aims to be pioneers in luxury African fashion.
Fashion Publications:
- GQ South Africa
- Faculty Press
Universities & Colleges:
- University of Johannesburg
- The Design School Southern Africa
To find out more about our e-book, Alternative Fashion Capitals: A Survey Of Twenty Cities Of Emerging Thought Leadership – and how to purchase it – click this link.
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