On 30 October, Foschini and celebrated designer Rich Mnisi will co-host an exclusive charity auction in partnership with Strauss & Co, where one-of-one pieces will be auctioned to support Move Africa, a non-profit dedicated to ending period poverty.
The collaboration bridges two major South African milestones, Foschini’s 100-year anniversary and Rich Mnisi’s 10-year design legacy. Together, they’re not only celebrating creativity but transforming it into a ‘Force For Good.’
The partnership began earlier this month with the launch of the Foschini xRich Mnisiretail capsule, a collection reimagining MNISI’s signature prints through Foschini’s beloved silhouettes.
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Now, the collaboration evolves into something even more meaningful: the Rich Mnisi x Foschini auction collection.This special 15-piece line was designed entirely by Mnisi, with every item becoming a vessel for change.
All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Move Africa, supporting access to menstrual care for girls across the country.
When conceptualising the collection, Mnisi was guided by what he describes as ‘the feeling of nostalgia.‘ Drawing inspiration from his grandmother’s days in Sophiatown, he revisited silhouettes of pleated skirts, blouses, and silk prints, blending the past with a fearless modern aesthetic.
‘When people see clashing colours, they can distance themselves from nature,’ Mnisi explains. ‘But if you take a walk, this is all you’re experiencing. It’s a reminder of being grounded.’
Yet beyond nostalgia lies rebellion, a nod to the 1970s, a decade Mnisi describes as a time when ‘people really stood up for what they believed in.’
‘It was a time of rebellion, again, in politics, in fashion, in how people saw themselves racially,’ he reflects. ‘If you go on Instagram today, people are standing up for whatever they believe in, and that confidence is the spirit of this collection.’
This collaboration, Mnisi explains, is about becoming the ongoing transformation that has defined Foschini’s relationship with South African women for 100 years.
‘This collection carries that spirit: this is the girl I am, and this is the girl I want to be,’ he says.
That duality, nostalgia and becoming, shapes each garment, linking the past to the future through design, memory, and purpose.
Mnisi recalls a Tsonga phrase taught by his mother: ‘Manyalong, Mekete, le Mafung’, weddings, celebrations, and funerals, the three times one must “show up and show off.”
‘The beautiful thing about clothing then was that it was communal,’ he says. ‘The aim was to outdress each other, yes, but we all had to do great.’
This philosophy anchors the collection and the auction alike. ‘Luxury isn’t about exclusivity,’ Mnisi explains. ‘It’s about how something makes you feel. What moves me most is seeing an everyday person styling Rich Mnisi with their own closet. That’s when I know we’ve done something meaningful.’
For Foschini, the auction aligns perfectly with its Force For Good initiative, an ongoing mission to use its platform for meaningful change.
‘Legacy is the echo of intention,’ Mnisi reflects. ‘This collaboration allows me to hold hands with history, and this auction extends that legacy, giving back to the communities that shaped us.’
The Rich Mnisi x Foschini Charity Auction will feature not only the exclusive 15 couture pieces but also select lots from across The Foschini Group (TFG) brands, each contributing to the shared goal of transformation through design.
Highlights include:
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@home: A Bugatti Breakfast Pack valued at R18,396, offering Italian design excellence for the modern kitchen.
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Markham: A made-to-measure suit experience worth R5,000, complete with shirt, tie, and shoes.
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Jewellery Division: A bespoke jewellery piece valued at R30,000, marking a symbolic new chapter in TFG’s legacy.
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Totalsports: A signed striker’s jersey from the 2016 Presidents Cup, celebrating South Africa’s sporting pride.
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Picture: Supplied
