Award-winning designers Thando and Vanya Mangaliso started their business journey in 2001.
They are a luxury, heritage brand that is all about preserving and celebrating African aesthetics.
They started out selling clothes from the boot of their car but became one of the biggest fashion brands in the country.
They owned the heritage fashion space and soon made a transition in 2006 into lifestyle, with the fragrances Goddess (Her) and Kumkani (HIM).
This year, the Sun Goddess brand, founded by Thando and Vanya Mangaliso celebrates 23 years, a journey filled with peaks and valleys.
The design duo say, it has not always been smooth sailing, but they are grateful to still exist in the ever-evolving world of fashion.
“We founded Sun Goddess in 2001. It feels like it was just the other day when we opened our first store in Rosebank,” Vanya tells Drum.
Sun Goddess showcase at the South African Fashion Week SS24
“We feel incredibly blessed to be still living the dream we had set out to do all those years ago. To have taken our heritage from being undervalued to a desirable commodity traded in some of the most prestigious platforms around the world is a highlight on its own.
“We are incredibly proud to have contributed to defining and ushering in a new era of South African fashion.”
Over the past 23 years, the duo have dressed some of the most admired A-listers for prestigious awards ceremonies and events.
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One of the superstars to recently adorn Sun Goddess was Goapele, the American soul and R&B songstress whose paternal roots to South Africa remain strong.
Speaking to Drum shortly after her rousing performance at the MetroFM Awards recently, the songstress said: “I was so humbled and excited to be part of it. It was really last minute, but I just really wanted to be there for the 30 years anniversary of Freedom Day. My brother and I travelled there, it had been a long time, and we just knew it was going to be special somehow.”
Reflecting on the entire experience dressed in her Sun Goddess dress, Goapele posted: “Full circle moment to be in South Africa performing at Metro FM Awards during the 30th anniversary for #freedomday.
“My father (RIP Douglas Mohlabane) spent so much of his life living in exile during Apartheid, raising us in CA and I remember finally getting to visit home together for the first time 30th ago after the first Democratic election.”
Another Hollywood A-lister who has been to the Sun Goddess store to see their iconic designs for herself is actress Gabrielle Union.
“We are very fortunate to have built an award-winning brand and one often considered to be amongst those that wrote a blueprint for African fashion,” Thando reflects.
“We have also dressed some of the biggest names in the industry and showcased on some of the biggest platforms globally such as London Fashion Week, and Singapore Fashion Week.
“We were once dubbed the ‘Afro Gucci’ by The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Newspaper.”
Here’s to another 23 years times a thousand of Sun Goddess!
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