Woolworths took double honours at the second annual South Africa Fashion Awards (SAFA), winning both Best Fashion Retailer and Best Fashion E-Commerce Brand, as the awards highlighted the growing intersection of fashion, retail, digital commerce and local brand building.
Co-host Taylo Edith Mannetti. Image by Abigail Badenhorst
Hosted by Tyron Gordon Williams and Taylo Edith Mannetti, the winners were announced on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at the Infinity Theatre at Hotel Sky Sandton, with the ceremony broadcast live on Channel One Africa.
Presented across 21 publicly voted categories, the awards recognised businesses and individuals spanning fashion design, retail, e-commerce, beauty, photography, modelling and fashion marketing. Winners were selected through public voting on the official SAFA website.
The awards come as South Africa's fashion industry continues to operate across an increasingly connected ecosystem, where physical retail, e-commerce, local design, streetwear and brand collaborations are all contributing to how consumers discover and engage with fashion.
Retail and e-commerce take centre stage
Woolworths' double win reflects the increasingly blurred lines between fashion retail and digital commerce.
The retailer was recognised both for its physical retail proposition and its e-commerce offering, highlighting the importance of maintaining a strong customer experience across channels as shopping behaviour continues to evolve.
Other retail and brand-led recognition included Foschini × Rich Mnisi – Foschini 100 × Rich Mnisi 10, which won Fashion Campaign of the Year, bringing together one of South Africa's established retail groups and one of its internationally recognised designers.
The collaboration demonstrates the commercial potential of partnerships that combine retail reach with local creative identity.
Local brands across the fashion value chain
The awards also provided a snapshot of the breadth of businesses operating within South Africa's fashion ecosystem.
Galxboy won Best Streetwear Brand, while Veldskoen Shoes was recognised as Best Footwear Brand and Meraki Jewellery Design won Best South African Jewellery Brand.
In the sustainability category, Something Good Studio took the award for Best Sustainable Fashion.
Beauty businesses were also represented, with Signature Cosmetics & Fragrances named Best Make-Up Brand and Clere Skincare winning Best Skincare Brand. Fanyana Maseko was named Best Makeup Artist.
The creative services supporting the industry were recognised through awards for Fuaad Abdool, who won Best Fashion Photographer.
At an executive level, Kaboomo Mgibi-Marshoff, senior brand manager at Skipper Bar, was named Fashion Executive of the Year.
The range of categories reflects an industry that extends beyond designers and clothing labels, encompassing retail, beauty, marketing, photography, e-commerce and brand management.
Image by Abigail Badenhorst
Fashion as an economic and entrepreneurial sector
The awards were opened by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe, who also presented the Fashion Entrepreneurship Award.
In his remarks, World Fashion Awards global director Jordan Kensington said the response to the awards demonstrated public interest in South African fashion and its commercial potential.
“South African fashion is creative, entrepreneurial and ready for the world stage,” Kensington said.
The event also featured an industry panel examining the future of South African fashion, bringing together Lauren Burmeister of Mentos South Africa, Mbulelo Mashilo of L'OR Espresso South Africa, Renee New of TFG and Jeannine van Straaten of Proudly South African.
The participation of brands, retailers and industry organisations from outside the traditional fashion sector also points to the broader commercial ecosystem surrounding fashion, from sponsorship and partnerships to consumer marketing and brand experiences.
Building the next generation of fashion businesses
SAFA's second edition comes as local fashion businesses increasingly navigate the demands of digital commerce, brand differentiation and international visibility.
For retailers, the challenge is to connect physical stores and online channels while maintaining relevance with consumers. For independent brands, partnerships and collaborations offer opportunities to access larger audiences, while categories such as streetwear, beauty and sustainable fashion continue to broaden the definition of the fashion industry.
With the awards determined by public vote, the event also provides an indication of the brands and individuals generating consumer recognition across the sector.
SAFA 2026 was sponsored by L'OR Espresso South Africa, Mentos South Africa, Black Crown and Madepossible.ai, and powered by the World Fashion Awards Group, Republic Africa and Republic Worldwide Group.
The event ultimately positioned South African fashion as more than a creative sector, highlighting an industry increasingly shaped by retail, technology, entrepreneurship, brand partnerships and changing consumer behaviour.
The 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards winners
| Category | Winner |
| Best Fashion Designer | Palesa Mokubung |
| Best Emerging Fashion Designer | Tebogo Selebi |
| Best Stylist | Lethabo Motlatle |
| Best Fashion Influencer | Kefilwe Mabote |
| Best Fashion Icon | Kim Jayde |
| Best Male Model | Bethel Sanza |
| Best Female Model | Maluvá Ngwenya |
| Best Modelling Agency | Boss Models |
| Best Hairstylist | Kelvin Takudzwa |
| Fashion Entrepreneurship Award | Thatiso Dube |
| Modelling Industry Legacy Award | Joani Johnson |
| Best Makeup Artist | Fanyana Maseko |
| Best Make-Up Brand | Signature Cosmetics & Fragrances |
| Best Skincare Brand | Clere Skincare |
| Best Fashion Photographer | Fuaad Abdool |
| Best Fashion Retailer | Woolworths |
| Best Fashion E-Commerce Brand | Woolworths |
| Best Sustainable Fashion | Something Good Studio |
| Best South African Jewellery Brand | Meraki Jewellery Design |
| Best Streetwear Brand | GALXBOY |
| Best Footwear Brand | Veldskoen Shoes |
| Best Fashion Campaign | Foschini × Rich Mnisi – Foschini 100 × RICH MNISI 10 |
| Fashion Executive of the Year | Kaboomo Mgibi-Marshoff, Senior Brand Manager, Skipper Bar |
Watch the full ceremony here.
