The new Wanda Lephoto campaign is a beautiful love to letter to a community of lovers, friends and family. “We want to celebrate and highlight our friends and family whose works we love and admire so much for their contributions in their respective fields, for always doing their best in an industry that often neglects their own.” Here we feature a selection of images from Spirits, the Wanda Lephoto Fall Winter 2025 collection campaign.
Sindiso Khumalo
Fashion designer Sindiso Khumalo wears Wanda Lephoto Fall / Winter 2025 ‘Me Fie’ poplin shirt and linen pants
“I believe fashion needs a more compassionate space to exist. Opportunities for designers who are intrinsically artists to expand ideas with the right timelines and space for research. Also, to have ideas respected and not copied by larger scale retailers. We just need a more compassionate, respectful industry.” – Sindiso Khumalo on what the fashion industry needs.
Luke Radloff
Fashion Designer Luke Radloff wears Wanda Lephoto Fall / Winter 2025 Generations shirt
“It’s about time the world came to us and not the other way round. I’m so weary when asked if I will show in Paris again or ‘what’s next?’ Let’s allow ourselves and others the time to do what’s right for us, and when we are ready, we are not coming to you, but we do extend an open invitation and we look forward to seeing you here at home.” – Luke on the conservative notion that couture can only exist in Western Worlds.
Lukhanyo Mdingi
Fashion Designer Lukhanyo Mdingi in the Spirits Fall Winter 2025 ‘Immortal’ shirt and heavy tightweave ‘Safi’ pants
“During the trajectory of working on the LM label, I’ve found that having your confidence firmly to the ground is the foundation needed to create something real. It’s of course at times, testing when you have moments of doubts or comparison against those they are around you, but leaning onto the sentiment of ‘knowing who you are’ is the sentiment that will set you apart and guide you to your fullest potential. Take the steady considerate route, it will all make sense for the many chapters that you have ahead. – Lukhanyo on Letters to A Young Designer.
Wanda Lephoto
Fashion Designer Wanda Lephoto in Fall Winter Spirits 2025 Campaign wearing heavy coarse linen ‘Msulwa’ coat with Sunsum bonnet
“I am because we are, a philosophy of our continent’s teachings believing in the essence of the human spirit and how essential each person’s contribution is in creating and developing new ideas. A fundamental viewpoint of the brand’s elevated aesthetic is family and community seeking to hold space and celebrate often less represented voices through what we do.” – Wanda on the brand, Wanda Lephoto’s potential for bringing people together.
About
The 20 people featured in the campaign are involved personally and professionally with Wanda Lephoto. But the spirit narrative suggested by the title of the collection takes us beyond these 20 people, and even beyond the materiality of the clothes. It encourages us to reclaim “spirits past” and hear whispers of “spirits futured”. It speaks to the emotions and souls of the makers and the wearers of the fashion.
By reaching out to them – friends, family, lovers, spirits – the new collection engages with the African philosophy of “I am because we are”. It becomes an encounter and a celebration of the human spirit.
People travel to far away places to look at in admiration the kind of people they ignore at home. Wanda Lephoto, studies and observes this kind of viewpoint, always in opposition to it and this season has been no different. “We want to celebrate and highlight our friends and family whose works we love and admire so much for their contributions in their respective fields, for always doing their best in an industry that often neglects their own.”
The Wanda Lephoto text for this collection explains, “Our Fall Winter 2025’s purpose is to redefine luxury, authentically and responsibly, by innovation through craftsmanship and storytelling, inspiring new perspectives on beauty, while embodying the essence of Wanda Lephoto: human spirit shines through community.”
The collection has an original take on tailoring styles. “Silhouettes reflect refined legacy, while heavy coarse linen coats, Ghanaian woven suits, and essential denim sets enliven the scholastic wardrobe.” There are Zulu symbols and the word Sansum (meaning in soul and spirit in the Akan language of Ghana) is printed on striped cotton shirting; smart vintage deadstock shirting, plaid graphic coats and vintage woollen finishings handmade in England and in Italy.
This campaign features the faces of our friends and family: Andile Dlamini, Anke Loots, Ayema, Batsi Magwere, Boemo Diale, Crystal Birch, David West, Jackie May, Jakinda, Keke Mahlelebe, Luke Radloff, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Manie Fagodien, Masego Morgan, Nebula Thobejane, Shannon Kobinson, Sindiso Khumalo, Taylor Makhoba, Oratile Moh and Wanda Lephoto.
Wanda says, “We don’t really believe we choose the people we work with for campaigns, we believe they choose us, we only highlight the qualities they see in us back as highlights they should see in themselves, a mirror of looking at oneself even if it’s for a moment.”
“These are the most outstanding of people within their respective disciplines and works, speaking to quality of talents coming from South Africa when we choose to see it, believe it, support it and nurture it.”
Credits
- Creative Direction: Wanda Lephoto
- Photography: Anke Loots
- Stylist: Wanda Lephoto
- Stylist Assistants: Lebogang Ramfate, Oratile Moh and Masego Morgan
