MAXHOSA AFRICA returns to Paris Fashion Week in March 2025 with a new collection titled, Lo Ngu-Mbulelo. This marks the brand’s second consecutive season on the official Paris Fashion Week schedule, once again standing as the only African brand featured. Rooted in ancient African tradition, Lo Ngu-Mbulelo is an ode to heritage and thanksgiving, deeply connected to the gratitude that ties us to our roots.
Umbulelo, meaning “thanksgiving” in Xhosa, is a sacred act of giving thanks—historically expressed through sacrificial ceremonies that usher in prosperity.
“In its essence, this collection is about honouring the practice of expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and for the many cultures and communities that have embraced and shaped us,” says Laduma Ngxokolo, Chief Creative Director, MAXHOSA AFRICA.”
At its core, Umbulelo is a reminder that fashion is more than art—it is a language of appreciation, acknowledging creativity as a gift passed down by ancestors. Umbulelo is also a ceremonial act that pays tribute to ancestors while expressing gratitude for their guidance and protection.
Traditionally, this practice includes the sacrifice of an animal, followed by spoken blessings, prayers, and thanksgiving at a sacred shrine. The phrase “Kube Chosi”—meaning “Let everything spoken at the shrine manifest”—reflects the essence of Umbulelo.
