Pick n Pay Clothing and Alizwa Ngesipho Sibawu Celebrate Heritage Month with a Bold Futurewear Collection

A modern ode to culture, identity, and African craftsmanship

September in South Africa marks a moment of reflection and celebration. Heritage Month is a time when the country turns its gaze inward, honouring the stories, traditions, and artistry that have shaped its cultural landscape. In tribute to this rich legacy, Pick n Pay Clothing introduced its second Futurewear collection, designed in collaboration with emerging fashion talent Alizwa Ngesipho Sibawu.

A designer whose work is rooted in cultural storytelling, Alizwa has crafted a collection that speaks to identity, pride, and contemporary elegance. The Alizwa Sibawu x PnP Clothing Futurewear collection is more than fashion, it is a visual language of heritage reimagined for modern living.

Drawing inspiration from the Eastern Cape’s sunlit horizons, the bold patterns of ancient rock art, and the symbolism of Xhosa heritage, Alizwa infuses each garment with meaning. The signature motif? A mustard-yellow print interspersed with geometric form is a deliberate nod to Africa’s vibrant visual traditions.

The silhouettes are airy and fluid, designed to move with the body and evoke a sense of freedom. Kaftan-style dresses, asymmetric tops, and wide-legged trousers dominate the collection, creating a wardrobe that transitions effortlessly from day to evening. The garments can be styled with a headwrap for a bold cultural statement or paired with sandals for an understated, contemporary look.

“I wanted the designs to capture the bold, sun-soaked palette created by the warmth and energy of the sun over the Transkei landscape,” says Alizwa. With roots firmly planted in the Eastern Cape, the designer’s journey into fashion began at home, watching his mother cut and sew patterns on their family sewing machine. This early exposure blossomed into a personal calling, one that he pursued with dedication, culminating in this landmark collaboration with PnP Clothing.

Fashion in South Africa has never been just about aesthetics. It is a medium of expression, a mirror reflecting history, resilience, and innovation. Clothing has served as a statement of identity, a marker of life’s milestones, a canvas for political resistance, and a vessel for cultural pride.

This is why initiatives like Futurewear exist. Created by Pick n Pay Clothing in collaboration with renowned designer Gavin Rajah, Futurewear bridges creativity and commerce. It serves as both an incubator for rising designers and a platform for accessible, proudly South African fashion.

“Futurewear was never meant to be a runway alone. It is a working classroom and a real shop floor. Alizwa brings a clear point of view that honours place and people while delivering clothes that live in the wardrobe, not a museum,” explains Gavin Rajah, co-founder of the programme.

The partnership is a testament to the economic potential of South African fashion, a sector contributing over R1 billion to the economy, according to the South African Cultural Observatory. This collaboration underscores the value of supporting local creativity, empowering designers while giving customers a chance to wear their heritage with pride.

The campaign imagery, set against woven baskets, ripe citrus fruits, and rich earthy backdrops, reinforces the organic harmony between culture and nature. Every frame evokes sun-soaked markets, traditional craftsmanship, and the easy elegance of African summers. The garments—draped, layered or tied, become not just fashion statements, but wearable stories of heritage meeting modernity.

The result is a collection that celebrates cultural roots while embracing the global language of contemporary fashion. These are clothes designed to live in your wardrobe, to be worn, loved, and remembered.

This collection opens the door to important conversations around cultural identity, sustainability, and the future of African design. Through feature editorials, designer profiles, and fashion spreads, media can explore how heritage continues to shape fashion and how programmes like Futurewear are revolutionising the industry from the inside out.

The Alizwa Sibawu x PnP Clothing Futurewear collection will be released online on the 28th of August, and launched in select Pick n Pay Clothing stores nationwide as of the 1st of September. Each piece in this limited-edition range is an invitation to celebrate Heritage Month, not just in spirit, but in style.