Lukhanyo Mdingi

Cape Town

With Fabrique since 2024 Cape Town visionary who conquered Paris Fashion Week runways; LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize winner, ANDAM finalist, GQ Designer of the Year. V&A London and Brooklyn Museum featured collections.

Inspiration

Lukhanyo brings his signature modernist approach to this collaboration, where thoughtful design meets refined simplicity. The partnership focuses on genuine creative exchange, blending both brand perspectives into something new. He integrates feminine elements throughout each piece's construction, creating sophisticated wardrobe staples built to last.

Background Fabs

Background

Cape Town visionary who conquered Paris Fashion Week runways; LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize winner, ANDAM finalist, GQ Designer of the Year. V&A London and Brooklyn Museum featured collections.

Lukhanyo Mdingi launched his Cape Town label in 2015 with something different in mind. His collections have since found their way to Paris Fashion Week runways and secured spots in London's V&A Museum and New York's Brooklyn Museum as part of African fashion exhibitions. The awards followed steadily: 2021 LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Prize, 2022 ANDAM Prize finalist, GQ Designer of the Year that same year, and the 2023 AMIRI Design Award. What earned him these recognitions wasn't just technical skill—it was his approach to translating traditional African craftsmanship through contemporary design, creating conversations about heritage that speak to people worldwide.

Mdingi doesn't just design clothes; he builds systems. His partnerships with Cape Town's PHILANI in Khayelitsha and Burkina Faso's CABES-GIE represent something more calculated than your usual typical fashion collaborations. This partnership are designed to develop local artisans' independent production capabilities while meeting multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. The proof is in the results: since 2019, the nationally protected Faso Danfani fabric, including two patterns Mdingi developed exclusively, has attracted international orders and recognition, introducing global markets to South African textile heritage. In 2021, he established a mentorship program with the French Institute in South Africa and Goethe Institute South Africa. As core mentor, he guides emerging designers through six-week intensive sessions covering upcycling techniques and sustainable materials—concepts that receive both professional guidance and real-world application.

Now serving on Cape Town's Design Academy of Fashion advisory board, Mdingi continues pushing for industry change. His collaboration with Fabrique extends his brand's modernist approach and deliberate design process. The partnership aims for genuine collaboration—making both brands' perspectives visible and understood. He weaves feminine elements into each piece's structural foundation, which becomes essential to creating refined wardrobe pieces that last beyond seasons.