Following a painstaking process of sifting through thousands of entries, the 9-member strong forensic team that presided the adjudication process in the Proudly South African Local Fashion Police has made a major breakthrough by whittling down the number of finalists to 30 shortlisted candidates who will vie for a share of R350,000 in local fashion, plus the chance to walk the runway in an original design from one of the judges’, seven covetable local brands.

This milestone follows a laborious yet meticulous process of sifting through thousands of entries.  

The annual Local Fashion Police turns five this year and has grown in stature to be synonymous with the celebration of local sartorial excellence and the dynamism of the local fashion industry. The panel of judges that adjudicated the entries comprises leading local fashion designers and household names in the local fashion industry in South Africa. 

The 30 shortlisted finalists that will compete for a place on a winner’s podium, in no particular order, are: 

• Siamkelo Kgomo
• Tase Jack
• Urban Guluva
• Thuso Guffy Motumi
• Stephanie Brookes
• Dudu Nyokong
• Bongani Dlamini
• Savannah Allessandra Cozzi
• Sibusiwe Butsaka
• Charlene Kallis
• Sipho Mnune
• Shireen Stanbull
• Gerdalize Bukes
• _tshegofatso
• Mamokgethi Phakeng
• Makabongwe Ignacious Adam
• Lindiwe Pronestar
• Marelize Earle
• Marika Opperman
• Sian Atterbury
• Pumelela Mehlwana
• Carol Avenant
• Thatohatsi May
• Thabang Mahlatji
• Yvette Carmen Muller
• Zoë Karsten
• Vanessa pillay
• lueandrue
• S’ne Maphumulo
• Imbali.Hairpiness

The nine judges who make up this year’s Proudly SA Local Fashion Police comprised of: 

• Tshepo Mohlala, founder of Tshepo Jeans;
• Designer Asanda Madyibi;
• Nobukhosi “Khosi” Mukwevho and Thabo Mukwevho, co-founders of Khosi Nkosi;
• Londeka Buthelezi Ndaba, founder of Malondié;
• Stephen Van Eeden of Stephen Van Eeden Atelier;
• Thandazani Nofingxana of Abantu in Africa; and 
• Prince and Warren Meko (aka the Meko twins), founders of Madonsela.

“We wish to thank South Africans for the enthusiasm they have shown by posting and sharing beautiful pictures that showcased local elegance, originality, and finesse. I also wish to thank our panel of judges, who had a very difficult time selecting the Top 30 due to the exceptionally high quality of entries we received for this year’s edition of the LFP. We are delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response we are getting from the public, and we are equally pleased with the steadily improving standards of entries we are receiving, which is indicative of the growing maturity and sophistication of fashion that is Loved Here, Made Here,” says Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, Chief Marketing Officer of Proudly South Africa. 

The Proudly South African Local Fashion Police 2025 is proudly sponsored by African Bank and FP & M SETA. 

For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tik Tok and Twitter, and visit our website www.proudlysa.co.za.