Founded by Siyabonga Mtshali – Siyababa Atelier is an avant-garde fashion brand celebrated for its provocative and daring designs. The label pushes boundaries with its bold and unapologetically cunty nature, this is the sex that sells.

Siyababa Atelier is further carefully detailed by Geothe Institut as a brand that looks to change the depiction of how the world views the black queer body through the eyes of fashion and art changing the narrative that young kids can look up to, something that Siyabonga never had as a bisexual Zulu man.

Besides its collections, Siyababa Atelier offers editorial campaigns and short films that showcase new garments in the most visually appeasing manner often characterized by a rebellious and sensual aesthetic. The brand has consistently emphasised the allure and appeal of the human body, their collections celebrate sensuality.

Our new favourite fashion editorial is by Siyababa Atelier, titled “Siyathandana” a fiery six-part series about a love triangle that could be best described as intrepidity! From Dumisani, a man whose name is synonymous with cunt to Queenie the Queen of the shebeen who sings the gospels of Lebo Mathosa and Brenda Fassie and uDali, the 2k holding together Dumisani and Queeni’s marriage with her gift for sensual mastery and Sunday’s 10 colour meal. “Siyathandana” is a beautiful editorial offering, I love its authenticity, the storytelling element and the attention to details.

“Siyababa Atelier not only values the principles of fashion but the brand cross pollinates itself becoming multi-disciplinary.

This provides a platform for an exchange of knowledge between artists and manifest collaborations. Truly seeking the answer to the academic question if fashion can be considered as art or they are two separate entities that coexist with one another.” – Siyababa Atelier