This ‘kitchen table print’ reminds Thebe Magugu of his grandmother’s tablecloth in Ipopeng, the Kimberley township where he grew up. In the South African language Tswana, Ipopeng means ‘beautify yourself’ but also ‘a close-knit community’. In his collection, Magugu replaces the negative preconceptions about his birthplace with pride and resilience. It earned him, as the first fashion designer from the African continent, the prestigious LVMH award in 2019. [text 2024]