Thebe Magugu’s Afro-modernist universe moves into hospitality

In early 2026, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, in Cape Town unveiled two projects by South African designer Thebe Magugu.

The Thebe Magugu Suite, created with StudioLandt, is a two-storey space with hand-sketched panoramic wallpaper of South African landscapes and bespoke furniture referencing traditional pottery and Basotho culture. Magugu has described the project as a way to explore how fashion can live beyond the body, extending into space and atmosphere.

Magugu House Cape Town is its public counterpart: a concept store and cultural venue with limited-edition and archival garments, exhibitions, screenings and conversations. Its inaugural exhibition, By Our Own Hands, was produced with Southern Guild.

The story connects fashion, design and art in one place — and shows African fashion houses becoming cultural institutions in their own right.