The Nguni Print®: The Story Behind South Africa's Heritage Print

Some prints are simply patterns. The Nguni Print® is a story. Designed in-house by South African fashion designer Sandi Mazibuko, founder of House of Fabrosanz, it brings together the art of three Nguni cultures, the Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele, in one print you can wear to the office, to dinner or to umcimbi.

What is the Nguni Print?

The Nguni peoples of Southern Africa share language roots, history and a strong tradition of visual art. Beadwork, cloth and painted homes have always been ways of telling people who you are: your family, your status, your stage of life. The Nguni Print takes three of those traditions and turns them into modern South African fashion.

The meaning behind every shape

• Circles: Zulu beadwork and the isicholo. The round shapes echo Zulu beadwork and the isicholo, the wide, circular hat traditionally worn by married Zulu women. In the print they stand for continuity, sisterhood and the circle of family.
• Black stripes: the Xhosa umbhaco. The bold black bands reference the braid trim on umbhaco, the traditional Xhosa garment. They bring structure and a sense of ceremony to the print.
• Diamonds: Ndebele mural painting. The geometric diamonds pay tribute to the famous painted homes of the Ndebele, whose bright, precise murals are recognised around the world. They represent expression and pride.

Put together, the three elements make one print that celebrates what the Nguni cultures share, and what makes each of them unique.

Colourful and monochrome

The Nguni Print comes in two moods. The colourful Nguni Print uses bright beadwork colours inspired by the South African flag, a reminder of the beauty in our diversity. The black and white Nguni Print is the same story told in a sharper, more understated way, easy to wear to work and to style with pieces you already own.

From Sandton to Paris Fashion Week

House of Fabrosanz was founded in 2011 by Sandi Mazibuko, who grew up in KwaDabeka in KwaZulu-Natal. From the start the goal was simple: to let South Africans wear their heritage every day, not only at traditional events. In 2018 the Nguni Print collection was showcased at Paris Fashion Week, taking a proudly South African print to one of the biggest fashion stages in the world. It has since been featured in the South African press, and House of Fabrosanz designs have been worn by names such as Zozibini Tunzi, DJ Zinhle, Minnie Dlamini-Jones and Jessica Nkosi.

How to wear the Nguni Print

• To the office: pair a Nguni Print blazer with black trousers, or wear Nguni Print slim pants with a plain white shirt. Let the print be the statement.
• For a wedding or umcimbi: choose a red Nguni Print maxi dress or the Nguni Print tassel dress and add a headwrap or statement earrings.
• For the weekend: a layered Nguni Print skirt with a simple top and sneakers keeps it relaxed.
• For him: the Nguni Print golf shirt from FRSMAN brings the same heritage to menswear.

Designed in South Africa, worn everywhere

Every Nguni Print piece is designed in-house at House of Fabrosanz in Sandton, Johannesburg. The Nguni Print® is a House of Fabrosanz original, so when you wear it, you are wearing an authentic South African print, not a copy.

Shop the full Nguni Print collection, or visit us at 144 Katherine Street, Grayston Ridge, Sandton.