Mahindra Fusion Fest came back this year bigger and better than ever. The event brought together thousands of fans, artists, and creators for one of South Africa's top celebrations of music, fashion, and art. Among the talented designers creating stunning looks for the main performers was Mzukisi Mbane from Impritza. We had the chance to sit down with him to discuss his work at the festival and what else he's been up to with his brand..
MUZI: So tell us about your involvement in the recent Mahindra festival. What did that experience mean to you?
MZUKISI: This was the second annual Mahindra Fest, and they really wanted to make it bigger than last year's event. That meant bringing more designers into the mix, and I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of them. It was such an exciting opportunity to work with an international car brand that embraces bold personality - just like Impritza does. Plus, they're rooted in collaboration and community, which really speaks to what we're all about.
MUZI: We heard you dressed several performers at the festival. How did that all come together?
MZUKISI: My main job was working on Fusion One and designing looks for the headlining acts. The theme was "Rewind the Revolution," which was perfect for what I had in mind. I was responsible for creating a look that introduced Zoë Modiga as this "born free" artist with her own unique element and sound. Then I designed pieces that took everyone on this incredible fashion and musical journey, working with acts like Mafikizolo and Claire Johnson. Every single look was carefully planned and totally on theme. We really got to rewind both the fashion and musical revolution.
Courtesy of Yelloewax & Magebaosoft
MUZI: Besides your recent work with Mahindra Fest, what other projects are keeping you busy?
MZUKISI: It's wild - we're barely into the year and it already feels like December with how packed our schedule is. We've got some major projects coming up, including a show at the Cape Town Jazz Festival in March, and then our latest AW27 collection will debut at Cape Town Fashion Week in April. The year is absolutely packed, and it's only going to get busier from here.
MUZI: What does the future look like for Impritza?
MZUKISI: There's definitely something big coming later this year that I can't talk about just yet. I feel like I've accomplished a lot with the brand so far, and right now my focus is really on refining what we do. I want to take Impritza back to its roots so we can explore more international opportunities. The future is all about slow fashion for us - putting more focus on homeware and furniture while expanding globally.