Her Story

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana is an award-winning fashion designer and cultural ambassador.

She is the founder of the African heritage label that bears her name. Thabo Makhetha, established in 2009, is rooted in the preservation of heritage and culture and is one of handful of brands considered as being at the forefront of African luxury fashion.

The label’s Kobo ea bohali (blankets of prestige) collection debuted at Vancouver Fashion Week in Canada (2014), the collection is recognised for using and taking inspiration from authentic Basotho blankets sparking a global fashion trend. Emilie Gambade, Editor of Elle Magazine, nominated the Thabo Makhetha “starburst coat” as the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa 2016. The labels latest collection titled Phetoho 2.0 (AW25 season) explores themes of sustainable and transformative design, the collection was immediately lauded for its creativity and was featured in Vogue Italia, the world’s leading fashion magazine.

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana has garnered numerous awards and accolades over her 15-year career. In 2024 she has been the recipient of continental and national honours in the form of the Creative Industry Award 2024 from the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) and the Arts & Culture Appreciation Award 2024 from the government of Lesotho. She is also the 2014 recipient of the Impact Award for Design Excellence from the Arts & Culture Trust of South Africa.

Extending her influence beyond fashion, in 2023 Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana took up an artist residency at the prestigious Iziko South African National Gallery, becoming the first fashion designer to do so in the galleries 150-year history. Her work was showcased as part of the Breaking down the wall’s exhibition. Also, in 2023 CTM, the largest tile producer in Southern Africa, announced its collaboration with the Thabo Makhetha brand for the design and launch of an exclusive set of tiles made available at CTM stores in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho.

Given her work as a cultural ambassador, Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana is a sought-after speaker. In 2024 she was the keynote speaker at the opening of the Sanlam Gallery’s exhibition Sutha ke fete, In celebration of 200 years of the nation of Lesotho. In 2018 she was on TedX, a global speaking platform, as part of a panel on the topic of The future of African fashion.