By Editorial Fashion Desk
Published: 9 May 2026
Location: Cape Town, South Africa | Event: AWW27 Fashion Week
Imprint A/W27 EMBO Collection by Mzukisi reflects a powerful blend of African heritage and modern luxury at the Week of Fashion Cape Town runway.
Cape Town once again took center stage in the global fashion conversation as local design house Imprint unveiled its highly anticipated Autumn/Winter 2027 (A/W27) EMBO Collection during AWW27 Fashion Week.The presentation formed part of the Fashion Capitol’s continued mission to elevate African designers and position South African fashion within the global market.The collection name, EMBO, draws inspiration from Xhosa heritage, evoking the idea of something ancient, respected, and enduring a theme that runs deeply through the collection’s narrative and design language.
Imprint’s A/W27 collection explored the tension between memory and modernity, using fashion as a storytelling medium rooted in African cultural identity.Structured silhouettes, layered textures, and refined tailoring defined the runway, reflecting a balance between strength and elegance.
Guests at the showcase were encouraged to engage with the collection on a personal level. Many attendees arrived wearing archival Imprint pieces, transforming the runway into a living archive of the brand’s evolution.The dress code “your most expressive Imprint look” blurred the line between audience and collection, turning the event into an interactive cultural experience.Rather than a traditional runway presentation, the show unfolded as a visual dialogue between past collections and the future of African design.
Imprint’s A/W27 collection reflects a broader movement in South African fashion, a shift toward globally competitive design that remains deeply connected to cultural heritage.
The collection emphasized:
This balance positions Imprint among a growing group of designers reshaping how African luxury is defined on the global stage.Events like AWW27 Fashion Week continue to position Cape Town as a vital hub for African fashion innovation.By offering a platform for both emerging and established designers, the event strengthens the city’s reputation as a bridge between African creativity and international fashion markets.Industry observers note that South African designers are increasingly influencing global conversations around sustainability, identity, and design authenticity.
Imprint’s A/W27 presentation reinforces the growing global recognition of African fashion as a leader in innovation rather than imitation.The EMBO collection, in particular, highlights how designers are reclaiming cultural narratives and translating them into contemporary fashion.As global demand for authentic, story-driven design grows, African labels like Imprint are increasingly shaping the future of runway culture. As Cape Town continues to rise as a global fashion destination, presentations like this reaffirm South Africa’s growing influence in shaping the future of fashion worldwide.
