Mount NelsonTo Host Third Edition of ‘Confections x Collections’: Celebrating Slow African Fashion

This November, Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel in Cape Town, will host the third annual Confections x Collections (CxC), an event coinciding with the hotel’s 125th anniversary. This highly anticipated fashion gathering will transform Mount Nelson’s lounge, terrace, and garden into a stylish setting for salon-style fashion shows, showcasing the best of slow African fashion.

Curated by the independent fashion and sustainability publication Twyg, CxC offers a unique platform for diverse, authentic African perspectives and sartorial storytelling. This year's edition celebrates the rise of slow fashion on the continent, highlighting the importance of sustainable design in African fashion. With Mount Nelson’s storied history of hosting iconic fashion figures, the event promises to be a significant cultural milestone.

Mount Nelson, affectionately known as “The Nellie” by locals, is perfectly positioned near some of South Africa’s leading designer studios and boutiques, offering guests easy access to exclusive fashion experiences. From November 5-9, 2024, the hotel will become a hub of contemporary African creativity, with each of the first four days featuring one designer in an intimate fashion experience that sprawls across the hotel’s lavish surroundings.

The lineup includes two of South Africa’s most celebrated designers. LVMH Prize winner and 2023 Amiri Prize recipient Lukhanyo Mdingi will showcase his work, which masterfully blends artisanal craft with modernity. Joining him is Johannesburg-based designer Rich Mnisi, renowned for his bold expressions of Tsonga culture and craftsmanship. Together, they represent the cutting edge of South African fashion, bringing a unique blend of tradition and innovation to the CxC runway.

From West Africa, two acclaimed Nigerian designers will also take the stage. Bubu Ogisi of IAMISIGO, known as a 'fibre artist,' will present wearable art that highlights ancient African textile techniques. Adeju Thompson of Lagos Space Programme, a 2023 International Woolmark Prize winner, will explore the past and future through sartorial expressions of Yoruba culture. Their participation underscores the event’s pan-African approach, bridging regional fashion narratives into a cohesive celebration of African excellence.

In keeping with the event’s theme of sustainability and slow fashion, Mount Nelson will offer a reimagined Afternoon Tea experience, curated by Executive Sous Chef Vicky Gurovich. In collaboration with the four participating designers, Chef Vicky will create bespoke confections inspired by the showcased fashion pieces, offering a deliciously artistic complement to each collection.

A special tea blend, created in celebration of the hotel’s 125th anniversary by Mingwei Tsai of Nigiro, will be served alongside these confections. This blend, a harmonious fusion of local flavors including rooibos, honeybush, mesquite, and apple, pays homage to South Africa’s rich botanical heritage. Adding to the experience, South African designer and LVMH Prize winner Sindiso Khumalo has designed a Cape Town-inspired tea set for Mount Nelson, part of the hotel’s soon-to-be-available retail range.

The event will culminate on the fifth day with a group show featuring both previous and current CxC designers, celebrating the 125-year legacy of Mount Nelson. This grand finale will bring together an array of talented designers, including VIVIERS Studio, Chulaap, Wanda Lephoto, Mantsho by Palesa Mokubung, Sindiso Khumalo, MmusoMaxwell, and MaXhosa Africa. Each designer will present their collections in a showcase that embodies the spirit of African creativity and excellence.

As Tiago Moraes Sarmento, Managing Director of Belmond Southern Africa, puts it, “In celebrating 125 years of The Nellie, this showcase is just one of many ways the Mount Nelson is committed to curating moments of reverie through art, food, and design, drawing inspiration from the continent.” With its blend of fashion, art, and culinary innovation, this year’s Confections x Collections is set to be a landmark event in Cape Town’s cultural calendar, celebrating both the legacy of Mount Nelson and the future of African fashion.