Design That Uplifts, Delight Intrigues

A collaboration with Southern Guild at the Silo District in Cape Town showcases designer Rich Mnisi’s first solo exhibition, titled Nyoka, on show from 2 October 2021 through to 4 February 2022. Designed to reach out and inspire.

- Jane Mayne

Innovator Rich Mnisi knows just how to turn heads. The maverick fashion designer’s eye-catching creations keep pushing boundaries, making manifest exquisite collections that range from the quirky to the elegant and wildly imaginative.

Rich’s striking use of line and colour exudes a positivity that resonates far and wide. “The biggest thing for me when creating a piece of art is for it to generate a conversation – be it a conversation you have with yourself, with the work itself, or with others around you. A piece may even trigger personal thoughts around the themes explored to create it, as well as ideas around the specific colors, shapes, and patterns used. Ultimately, I want to uplift, delight and intrigue people with beautiful pieces – but at the same time also challenge them to think more deeply about what they’re viewing,” he says.

Spearheading his popular Rich Mnisi label, these young entrepreneurs’ pieces are snapped up by celebs and trendy fashionistas alike. His brand has been bolstered by accolades such as Africa Fashion International Young Designer of the Year (Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa 2014); Emerging Designer of the Year in New York (Essence Best in Black Fashion awards 2019), and inclusion in the 2019 Forbes #30under30 list.

In an extension to his eye-popping collections, Rich has turned his hand to collectable furniture design. A collaboration with Southern Guild at the Silo District in Cape Town sees his first solo exhibition, titled Nyoka (Snake), on show from 2 October 2021 to 4 February 2022.

FORM, FLOW, MOVEMENT