Fashion Designer Call Out

Are you a young Eswatini designer ready to take your creative vision to a global stage?

The Luju Fashion Program, is officially calling for local fashion entrepreneurs to apply to showcase on the runway at this years festival. This is more than just a runway show; it is a dedicated path to nurturing and empowering Eswatini’s fashion talent through mentorship and exposure.

Why Join the 2026 Fashion Journey?

Working alongside local and regional industry experts, you will develop a unique and directional collection to be showcased on the iconic Mastercard Runway. This year, designers are invited to interpret the 2026 theme, "Kwesukasukela – stories woven into fashion ” a theme that celebrates the art of storytelling as a living expression of culture.

As a participant, you will receive:

Mentorship: Direct guidance from the Luju Fashion team mentors on collection concepts, brand identity, and production quality.
Professional Showcase Support: Full runway production, including models, hair, makeup, and styling guidance.
Sponsorship of fabrics: you will have the opportunity to choose fabrics to make your collection from our Fashion partners.
Market Access: A dedicated trading stall in the Luju Fashion Café to engage with over 10,000 festival attendees and generate direct sales.
Media & Content: Inclusion in pre-event media segments and professional photography and videography of your collection for your own brand use.
Industry Dialogue: Participation in the Luju Fashion Indaba, where you will network with industry leaders to tackle sector challenges and explore growth opportunities.

 

Our Mission

The Luju Fashion Program is dedicated to:

Celebrating Heritage: Increasing awareness of African fashion evolution and regional traditions.
Advocating for Sustainability: Highlighting eco-friendly initiatives and fashion circularity within the industry.
Fostering Growth: Enhancing brand visibility and market access for Eswatini and Southern African designers.
Encouraging Collaboration: Promoting cultural exchange between local and regional designers.

 

Ready to weave your story into the African Future? Apply now to join a movement that honours our past while meeting the needs of future generations through sustainable and spectacular fashion.

ABOUT THE LUJU FESTIVAL

A family-friendly feast of culinary exploits, high-end fashion, premium wine and whiskey showcases, fine music, and wholesome entertainment. Through fabulous fashion designs and culinary showcases by celebrity chefs all inspired by the Luju ethos “A Return to the African Future”, the festival celebrates the sophistication and elegance of African vintage style, creative design and delicacies. Festival guests Eat, Sway, Love and rejoice in our heritage and culture, in all its afro-futuristic boldness.

Fashion plays a pivotal role at the Luju Festival, generating high engagement, opportunity & activity in this expanding segment. This year sees a strong focus on sustainability within design with activities supporting innovation, sustainable production, and local industry growth. Fashion at Luju 2026 spotlights the local fashion industry and provides a platform for local and regional talent to make its mark.

Following the successful introduction of the Luju Fashion Program, and Fashion Indaba, 2026 offers even more opportunities to celebrate everything fashion, beauty, and creativity, under the Luju festival ethos “A Return to the African Future”

PARTICIPATION CRITERIA:

• Must be an Eswatini fashion designer / fashion brand.
• Must currently be in business, and seeking to expand their fashion enterprise.
• Must be able to produce a minimum of six looks for the runway collection.
• Must have unique and directional designs that are your own creations. 
• Must have the desire to use sustainable materials and sustainable manufacturing processes.
• Must be able to articulate their brand story and the inspiration behind their designs.
• Must be available to participate in this program from May 2026 to August 2026.
• Participation in all Luju fashion events & activities is compulsory.
• Must be able to attend in-person training sessions at House On Fire.
• Must be open to shooting video content for Luju fashion media segments.
• Must demonstrate professional business practices, including punctuality, reliability and transparency.
• Must have access to a computer / laptop to develop concepts & moodboards for your collection inspiration.
• Must have access to internet for virtual meetings and research.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please read the fashion designer info pack before submitting your application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPNdrSyEadQC0O7wibSFC_prYVzuO0DL/view?usp=drivesdk 

Festival Dates: 1st and 2nd August 2026

Application closing date: 9th April 2026

 

Key Luju Fashion Program activities and events:

Luju Fashion Mentorship (May - August 2026)

Luju Fashion Indaba (July 30th 2026)

Luju Fashion Shows (August 1st and 2nd 2026)

Luju Fashion Cafe Marketplace (August 1st - August 2nd 2026)

 

PLEASE NOTE: 

Designers will be required to finance the production of their own fashion collections to be shown at the festival.

Accepted designers will be required to present their collection concepts by May 2026 and deliver final collections by July 17th 2026, in order for the LUJU team to manage the show production.