There are love stories that live on long after the people who wrote them. Zodwa, the latest collection from Ezokhetho, is one such story—an intimate tribute to designer Mpumelelo Dhlaminiʼs late parents and the enduring bond they shared.
Recently unveiled at SA Menswear Week AW25, Zodwa is not only a sartorial offering but a deeply personal narrative woven into cloth, silhouette, and memory.
Named after the affectionate nickname Mpumelelo Dhlaminiʼs father gave his mother, Zodwa revisits the decades of the 80s and 90s in South Africa—a time marked by both struggle and transformation. In the midst of socio-political unrest and rapid change, their love thrived: quiet, steadfast, resilient. This collection honors that spirit.
Through two distinct yet interconnected looks, the editorial captures the essence of that era—not just in aesthetic, but in emotion. Every stitch echoes the intimacy of partnership and the strength found in unity. It is a reflection of Black love in its truest form: vulnerable, enduring, and unapologetically present.
This season also signals a new direction for Ezokhetho, with the introduction of menswear for the first time. Itʼs a natural evolution of the brandʼs ethos— bridging cultural memory with contemporary design, and dressing a new generation in stories they recognize as their own.
With Zodwa, Ezokhetho continues to build a wardrobe that holds space for African narratives: stories of love, resistance, and rooted beauty.
