South African fashion designer Thebe Magugu will debut his first-ever hospitality collaboration at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel in Cape Town, this December. Marking the 10th anniversary of his brand and his first foray into interior design, the project comprises the Thebe Magugu Suite and Magugu House Cape Town, a concept store adjacent to the suite.
Positioned along the hotel’s iconic palm-lined avenue, the suite joins Belmond’s global portfolio of Signature Suites & Villas and is billed as the company’s first Designer Residence concept. It also marks Magugu’s first official presence in Cape Town.
Designed with StudioLandt, the two-level space introduces what Magugu describes as an ‘Afro-English’ aesthetic: hand-sketched panoramic wallpaper reimagining Southern African landscapes; terrazzo floors in peat and green; and ceremonial, hand-carved furniture. Rotating art is presented in partnership with Southern Guild, launching with works by Mmangaliso Nzuza and featuring pieces by Lulama Wolf, Zandile Tshabalala, Banele Khoza, Lorenzo Plaatjies and Trevor Stuurman.
“Together, the Mount Nelson and I have crafted a space rooted deeply in place and purpose, with a strong commitment to preserving the culture from which we draw inspiration,” says Magugu. “Textures in this space are stone and timber, to give the impression that designs are of 'the earth', and thus can be given back.”
Design references include a pendant light inspired by the Basotho Mokorotlo hat and bespoke wooden furniture echoing traditional pottery. The upstairs bedroom opens onto a private terrace, while the bathroom pairs marble and local bronze with rust and burgundy tones.
“My work is rooted in preservation”, says Magugu. “I created this suite with the intention of offering guests the experience of living within a space that encapsulates our culture through art, craft, and history - while also providing a sense of ease and comfort, reflective of the gracious hospitality the Mount Nelson has extended for over 126 years."
Johannesburg-based and Kimberley-born, Thebe Magugu shot to fame after winning the 2019 LVMH Prize, the first African designer to claim the award. He has since shown regularly in Paris and was the guest designer for Pitti Uomo’s 100th edition in 2021, presenting a menswear collection. A finalist for the 2021 International Woolmark Prize, Magugu has also led high-profile collaborations, including serving as AZ Factory’s first guest designer and creating adidas performance capsules seen at the 2022 US Open. His work is even represented in New York’s iconic The Met museum, where the Costume Institute collection holds three of his pieces: ‘Girl Seeks Girl’, ‘Ensemble’ and ‘Shipwreck’.
Opening alongside the suite, Magugu House Cape Town will function as a boutique-gallery hybrid, mirroring the Johannesburg atelier launched in 2024. Limited-edition garments and archival pieces will sit alongside exhibitions – initially featuring Zizipho Poswa and Zanele Muholi – plus a curated selection of books and design objects, with talks, screenings and salon-style events on the calendar. How excited are we? In 2024 Time magazine tuted Magugu House in Johannesburg as one of the World's Greatest Places, and we can't wait to see what the Cape Town outpost will bring to the table.
“Magugu House heroes African luxury: refined, forward-looking yet rooted in culture,” Magugu says. “It is where the past, present, and imagined future of Africa exists in dialogue, a philosophy of Afro-Modernity.”
The Thebe Magugu Suite will be available to book from December 2025.
Sign up to Time Out Cape Town's free newsletter for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City. You can also follow Time Out Cape Town on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok!
TIME OUT RECOMMENDS:
😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town
🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town
🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town
🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town
🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town
📍 The best things to do in Cape Town