Fashion designer Palesa Mokubung's uniquely South African label Mantsho was launched in Joburg in 2004, bringing a bold new aesthetic to contemporary South African women's ready-to-wear fashion by combining colourful African fabrics, fine silks and woven fabrics with distinctive shapes and silhouettes. Palesa describes her clothing as "edgy and experimental" and easily identifiable as a uniquely Mantsho design "by its confident and effortless silhouette, structure and quirkiness". 

It is this distinctive mix of contemporary aesthetics, quirky details, bold materials and unique patterns (many of them designed with the help of her graphic designer brother) that has brought Palesa's label to the attention of some of the world's biggest tastemakers in recent years, including acclaimed costume designer Ruth E. Carter who won an Oscar in 2019 for her work on Marvel's Black Panther. One fateful day in early 2018 the costume designer walked into Palesa's boutique in the 27 Boxes centre in Melville and liked what she saw, choosing to wear a Mantsho design to an upcoming, star-studded film premiere of the film Black Panther. Several requests for more outfits for Carter's many red carpet events followed. 

Since then Palesa's international renown has continued to shine ever brighter and in April 2019 it was announced that she would become the first ever African designer to produce a collaborative collection with the global fashion retailer H&M, who have previously worked with international icons such as Balmain and Karl Lagerfeld on their signature designer collections.

The H&M team have described Palesa as "an inspiring talent and personality" saying that they "love how she works with colour, print and silhouettes enhancing the female shape in a flattering and playful way". Palesa for her part sees the collaboration, which launched at flagship H&M stores worldwide in August 2019, as "a dream come true. Mantsho prides itself as a ready-to-wear brand and this exclusive collection fulfils this promise."

In September 2020 Palesa moved her stylish boutique from Melville's 27 Boxes to a spacious new studio at Victoria Yards, a community of makers and designers east of the City Centre that is home to other well known local brands including Tshepo the Jeanmaker and Dry Bone Co. f you are lucky you might get to enjoy a taste of the eternally chic designer's invaluable styling advice too.

And don't be surprised to bump into a few local celebrities while you are browsing the rails. As well as wowing Hollywood's movers and shakers, Palesa also counts top South African actresses and musicians such as Thandiswa Mazwai, Simphiwe Dana, Lira and Nomzamo Mbatha as some of her biggest fans.