Matching outfits are getting a family-sized makeover. Ackermans has teamed up with South African fashion label Me&B on a new collection spanning womenswear, menswear and kidswear, with the collaboration also marking Me&B’s first step into the children’s fashion category.
Image supplied.
Unveiled at Ackermans’ Summer 2026 showcase at Le Grand Jardin Villa in Stellenbosch, the Me&B x Ackermans collection brings together the fashion label’s bold prints and colour with Ackermans’ experience in family apparel.
The range includes coordinated looks for mothers, fathers and children, alongside swimwear and accessories. Oversized florals, multicoloured stripes and playful prints run throughout the collection, with pieces designed to work as matching outfits or be styled individually.
For Me&B, the partnership opens up a new product category. Founded by mother-and-daughter duo Kelly-Grace Gibberd and Betina Swart, the label is known for its expressive prints and colourful approach to fashion.
Its move into kidswear brings that aesthetic into a category it had not previously explored.
“Me&B has always been about joy, fun, colour and self-expression, and it was exciting to bring that energy into kidswear while also creating expressive, joyful pieces for women,” says Gibberd.
Combining design with family-fashion expertise
The collaboration draws on the different strengths of both businesses. Me&B brings its distinctive design language, while Ackermans contributes its experience in kidswear, including fit, comfort and product development.
For Ackermans, the partnership also adds a South African designer collaboration to its wider family-fashion offering.
“I've always loved Me&B for its colour, quirkiness and joy,” says Shaz Abass, chief executive: product at Ackermans.
“This collaboration brings that unmistakable Me&B personality to the whole family, combining bold, playful design with the fit, comfort, quality and value our customers expect from Ackermans.”
Summer trends across the collection
The collaboration was the headline reveal at Ackermans’ Summer 2026 showcase, which also presented seasonal ranges across womenswear, menswear, teens and kids.
The wider collection features a palette of red, aqua, coral, chocolate brown and sugary pink, alongside feminine dresses, matching sets, balloon-leg trousers and updated denim. Crochet, fringing, beading, lace and draping add texture, while linen-look fabrics, summer knits and satin-look pieces bring variety to the seasonal ranges.
Ackermans chief marketing officer Bronwyn Pretorius says the retailer continues to focus on making fashion accessible to families.
The Me&B x Ackermans collection will be available exclusively at selected Ackermans stores nationwide and online from 29 October 2026.
