MaXhosa Returns to New York City with Six-Month Pop-Up

U.S. consumers to get a taste of South African luxury with new brand opening early next year.

Published By: Everything ZA News

Image Source: DARTPHOTOGRAPHYZA 2019

Five years after making its New York Fashion Week debut, South African luxury brand MaXhosa is set to return to the Big Apple with a six-month pop-up shop in Soho. The store, located on Canal Street, is scheduled to open in early 2024.

“We’ve been in and of New York for a few years now,” said Laduma Ngxokolo, founder of MaXhosa, at an intimate gathering of media in the Financial District.

Ngxokolo first visited New York in 2015 and was immediately struck by the city’s vibrant energy and diversity. “I thought, ‘I like the Black people out here,'” he recalled. “They’re so expressive, they’re so colorful, they’re so diverse. I love the energy.”

Since then, MaXhosa has evolved from a South African-centric knitwear brand inspired by the Xhosa initiation ceremony to an internationally recognized name in African luxury fashion, admired by the likes of Beyoncé and Alicia Keys.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, MaXhosa had been steadily building its presence in New York. In 2018, the Museum of Modern Art commissioned a cable-knit sweater by Ngxokolo for its “Is Fashion Modern?” exhibit. And in 2019, Bloomingdales stocked his kaftans for their The Lion King collection, inspired by the live action remake, in a pop-up curated by actress Florence Kasumba.

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MaXhosa kaftans in Bloomingdales’ The Lion King collection

The six-month pop-up shop in Soho will provide MaXhosa with an opportunity to showcase its latest collections to a wider audience and further establish its brand in the United States.

“We’re really excited to be back in New York and to have a physical space where we can connect with our customers,” Ngxokolo said. “We think Soho is the perfect location for us, as it’s a neighborhood that is known for its creativity and diversity.”

The pop-up shop will feature MaXhosa’s full range of men’s and women’s apparel, as well as homeware and accessories. There will also be a series of events and workshops throughout the six months, including talks by Ngxokolo and other African designers.

MaXhosa’s return to New York is a testament to the brand’s growing success and its commitment to global expansion. The six-month pop-up shop is sure to be a major attraction for fashion lovers and will undoubtedly raise the profile of African fashion in the United States.