Internationally celebrated fashion designer Sindiso Khumalo has officially opened the doors to her very first flagship store in Cape Town, marking a proud milestone for the brand and a new chapter in its story.
Known for her hand-illustrated prints, deeply considered silhouettes, and commitment to sustainability, the LVMH Prize finalist has spent the past decade building an inspiring global presence. Her work has been featured in Milan Fashion Week and appeared in collaborations with brands such as & Other Stories, IKEA and Vans. Now, as the brand enters its second decade, Sindiso brings the stories she’s shared around the world back to the place where they began.
“Opening the store in Cape Town just made sense. It’s where my family is, where my home is,” says Khumalo. The designer launched her namesake label in 2014 after completing her Master’s in Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins. Following a pause to focus on raising her young children, she relaunched in 2018 and has since built a loyal following of customers who appreciate her slow, intentional approach to design.
From the beginning, the brand has championed African textile traditions and sustainability, using natural fabrics like African-grown cotton, hemp and linen. Khumalo is especially passionate about working with women artisans, from Cape Town to Jaipur and Burkina Faso, supporting age-old techniques like hand embroidery, hand-block printing and crochet. That same sense of community and craft has been thoughtfully woven into the new retail space.
Located in the vibrant Longkloof precinct, the flagship store is a celebration of South African creativity. The store features designs from ARRANGE Studio, Dokter and Misses, and Wunders, and featuring artwork by Marsi van de Heuvel, the space is both personal and purposeful. “I really wanted the space to tell a story of South African art and design,” explains Khumalo. A blush velvet curtain and pink- painted exposed piping add playfulness to the industrial bones of the space, while a fire-engine red railing sweeps through the store with organic movement. “It really feels like me,” she continues. “We took a lot of care into curating the space to reflect the story of the brand and to bring that story to life in a physical form. Everything you see in the store—the colours, the textures, the energy—is part of the world we’ve built with the brand,” she adds.
Even the materials carry meaning. Surplus tiles and a repurposed sofa by Heath Nash reflect the brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, circularity and conscious design. “I wanted every aspect of the space to be reflective of the work we do at SindisoKhumalo. We’ve always worked with waste in a way that reimagines it as something beautiful, and I wanted that to be part of the store too.”
Woven into the brand’s DNA is a deep commitment to celebrating women’s stories. Taking pride of place on the shop floor is In Full Bloom, a vibrant, joyful collection that honours sisterhood and shared heritage. Drawing inspiration from the women in Khumalo’s life, past and present, the collection merges Cape Town-made embroideries with hand-block prints from Jaipur, blending South African and Indian craft traditions. True to Khumalo’s signature style, the prints are a love letter to colour, shaped by her travels to India and Morocco last year. There, the boldness and pride of the artisans she met left a lasting impression. Featuring hues of turmeric, rose and sage, the colours of the collection take inspiration from the rich hues of Marrakech’s souks and the colourful array of spices, pottery and tapestry.
The collection introduces more accessible pieces like T-shirts and collar accessories, alongside her signature 60s esquesilhouettes and bold, painterly prints. “I’ve always thought of clothing a kind of good luck charm,” she explains. “I want our garments to bring joy and feel like little talismans that move with you through your life.”
Ultimately, the store is more than just a space to shop; it’s a space to connect. “We really wanted to create something that felt warm and welcoming, where people could come in, discover the brand, and feel like they’re stepping into a story. I hope they feel at home,” says Khumalo.
“There’s a lot ahead for the future of Sindiso Khumalo, and the retail space is just the beginning of this
journey.”
Visit the new Sindiso Khumalo store at Unit CO1,
Longkloof Precinct, 4 Park Road, Gardens, Cape Town.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10h00-17h00
Saturday: 10h00-14h00
