Do you think you know fashion? well, you might honestly think that you do until you get to know about Rich Mnisi who reminds you that you don’t know any fashion whatsoever, at least he does it in an unprecedented fashionable way.
Let it be known everywhere; in Africa and far beyond that you cannot talk about Africa and African fashion without having Rich Mnisi in that conversation.
Rich Mnisi is a fashion icon who isn’t scared or intimidated in trying new things in fashion and explores some iconic fashion designs that some people can’t find the guts to explore.
Mnisi, a businessman, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and fashion connoisseur also happens to be a Forbes 30 under 30 recipient class of 2019. Rich Mnisi got a lot of things going for him in the business, and fashion realm making him one of the most busiest people today.
LISOF(Leaders in the Science) graduate and Africa Fashion International Young Designer of the Year 2014, Rich Mnisi has been capturing the attention of netizens across Africa with his mini skirts, not only in South Africa.
Related articles:
- Minnie Dlamini looked liked a princess on her wedding day
- Willis Chimano proves he is years ahead of fashion
- check out the stunning dress Boity Thulo wore at the Consumer Awards
- American-based Kenyan from Kibera gives back to his community through fashion
- Anerlisa Muigai’s fashion is impeccable thanks to her amazing dresses
- 7 fashions styles Tanasha Donna served us in 2021
- meet stylist Wambui Thimba almost every celebrity and artiste wants to work with
Rich Mnisi is a fashion icon and apparently, everybody knows it, even our very own celebrities like Boity, and Bonang Matheba.
Bonand Matheba once jokingly tweeted that all items from Rich Mnisi’s collection were priced at R2 million. This tweet went ahead to see Rich Mnisi nicknamed ‘Mr. 2 Million’ thereafter.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Just to prove that he’s a high-end fashion designer, Rich Mnisi’s coveted Highway two-tone scarf which extends on a 2 meter soft striped knit is R1,199.
In another occassion, his Xibelani skirt that has a price tag of R60,000(slightly over USD4,000) caused an interesting conversation on social media about the skirt that is a garment that the Tsonga women traditionally wear to special events and occasions. The skirt retails for R2,000 – R6,000. Defending the pricing, the fashion powerhouse stated that the 5km of pure Merino wool was used for the creation of the skirt.
Back in April 2020 after the African Fashion International(AFI) mandated designers to produce face masks as a means of supporting their staff during the COVID-19 crisis, Rich Mnisi came up with his collection of face masks with an asking price of R2,000. Mnisi worked with local women to produce the masks with some of the proceeds from the sale of premium face masks donated to charities that were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
To everyone’s surprise, the premium face masks were purchased in large numbers.
The premium face masks were named Alkebulan or mother of mankind.
The founder of OATH Studio caused an online buzz with his 2021 collection that he dubbed ‘Hiya Kaya 21’ which means ‘Header Home’ in Xitsonga. The latest collection paid tribute to the vaTsonga culture.
Rich Mnisi’s beautiful-beyond-words designs
Rich Mnisi is not your average designer, he’s way ahead of anyone else you know in fashion, he always thinks ahead having his pieces getting featured in international fashion media outlets and having international celebrities wear his signature clothes is not a big deal to him, at least not anymore.
Mnisi has seen Vogue Itali, Vogue Russia, Elle, Marie Claire, even GQ feature his designs and creations.
He’s dressed Ciara where the singer wore Mnisi’s pieces on her ‘Freak Me’ music video. Another celebrity who has worn Rich Mnisi’s creation is Beyoncé. The internationally acclaimed musician and philanthropist wore Rich Mnasi’s designs when she attended the 2018 ‘Global Citizen Concert’ in South Africa.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Another notable international celebrity who has donned Rich Mnisi’s creation is Naomi Campbell who wore a Mnisi jumpsuit on her ‘Good Morning Britain’ interview about her meeting with Nelson Mandela.
“We received an enquiry from her[Beyoncé] team asking for pieces, which we shared and months later, we had forgotten all about it and then there she was in the RICH MNISI Rhundzu blouse and Crocodile half-pleat skirt!
I was so pleased and excited, it was such a beautiful affirming moment for myself and the brand.” Rich Mnisi said in his exclusive interview with Sasha Bokamoso for GlamSquad magazine.
Attending the BET Awards in 2019, actress Nomalanga Shozi wore Rich Mnisi’s white dress with a R94,000 price tag.
Rich Mnisi has diversified his portfolio by venturing into furniture as well by making a furniture debut consisting of a chaise and a stool titled Nwa-Mulamula, after Rich’s late great-grandmother.
“For me, the chaise, which takes the shape of Nwa-Mulamula’s (The Guardian) body in the form of a Navy leather couch, presents her presence and long-lasting teachings, and the stool, in the shape of an eye with gold puddles, represents her tears, which were never in vain. Without her pain and her experiences I wouldn’t exist. I couldn’t be the person I am today,” explains Mnisi.
These specially commissioned pieces form part of a group show of multidisciplinary artists, all in celebration of Southern Guild’s decade-long journey of pioneering collectible design in South Africa, and include ceramic artists Zizipho Poswa and Madoda Fani, sculptors Daniella Mooney and Stanislaw Trzebinski, and newcomers such as 3D illustrator Ferdi B. Dick.
“You’ve never seen anything like these pieces before,” says Julian McGowan, co-founder of The Guild Group, “the whole concept was to encourage the designers to work outside their comfort zone, providing mentorship and guidance along the way. They’re accomplished designers already – so we wanted them to think differently about themselves and their work.”
View this post on Instagram
A lot of people might not know this but Rich Mnisi has help put Africa(not only South Africa) in the international map as one of the most fashion-rich continents in the world by digging dip into the African cultures to source his inspirations for his amazing designs that always represents Africa and her people to the core.
Whatever you do, GIVE AND PAY YOUR UTMOST RESPECT TO RICH MNISI FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO AFRICAN and AFRICA FASHION.
