By Zenoyise John:
A blazing light in South African fashion has gone out. Vanya Mangaliso – the bold visionary behind the iconic Sun Goddess label – has passed away. She was 53.
Mangaliso, who died peacefully on Thursday, 26 June 2025, surrounded by her family, was more than just a fashion designer. She was a cultural force. A symbol of pride. A woman who stitched heritage, identity, and elegance into every thread of her work. Her death has sent ripples of grief through the South African fashion world, with many calling it the end of an era.
For over 25 years, Mangaliso reigned as the high priestess of Afrochic. Her fashion wasn’t just worn – it was felt. Her garments told stories: of ancestors, of African royalty, of dignity reclaimed. Each runway show was a ceremony, her presence at Fashion Week electric. Her signature style, deeply rooted in Xhosa traditions and African cosmology, became a celebration of everything mainstream fashion once ignored.
Her label, Sun Goddess, wasn’t just a brand = it was a movement. She and her husband, co-founder and partner in creativity, guided it into one of South Africa’s most decorated fashion houses, earning over 50 awards both locally and abroad. But for Mangaliso, the real award was seeing African people reflected with honour and power.
“Vanya didn’t design clothes. She designed identity,” said one close friend and fashion editor. “She showed us how to wear who we are.”
From Paris to Lagos, New York to Sandton, her work turned heads and opened hearts. She mentored dozens of young designers, spoke passionately about cultural ownership, and never wavered in her belief that African fashion belongs at the centre of the global stage.
Tributes have poured in across social media:
“We have lost a giant. She lit the runway with soul,” wrote fashion model Lerato Mokoena.
“You dressed us like royalty because you saw our royalty,” said poet and activist Napo Masheane.
As the industry struggles to process her loss, many say Mangaliso’s presence will never truly vanish. Her designs live on – in wardrobes, in museums, and in the pride of those who walk taller because of what she created.
The Mangaliso family has requested privacy during this period of mourning and has not yet released details about the funeral.
But one thing is certain: South African fashion will never be the same. – @NewsSA_Online
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