Four reasons Beyonce gave Laduma Ngxokolo a shout out

1) Ngxokolo was included in the third season of 21 Icons in October. The acclaimed short-film series featured Ngxokolo.

2) Back in 2014 Ngxokolo received the Emerging Designer of the Year Award at the African Fashion International Awards. Even back then then his striking knitwear made big impressions.

3) His knitwear inspiration is from Eastern Cape Xhosa communities, where young men between 18 and 25 undergo six months of intense training in traditional circumcision schools before they’re initiated into manhood. Part of the ritual involves replacing all their clothes – handovers from boyhood – with new items, including high-quality knits. Because few local sources are available, initiates typically turn to imported western brands when they receive knitwear.

4) Later this week, April 15 to be exact, MaXhosa will be available at the United Arrows menswear boutique in Tokyo, Japan, at the Harajuku district. Fashion in Harajuku has become highly influential globally. MaXhosa has been sold in Japan for a while, but this is Ngxokolo’s first real stint trading exclusively in Japan. His knitwear is also available at Agnes and Lola in London.