At this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, MASANGO by Siphosihle proudly introduces “IGOLIDE,” a sculptural couture gown created exclusively for fashion luminary Mihlali Ndamase. Fusing ultramodern architectural lines with traditional Ndebele iconography, “IGOLIDE” channels the city’s storied mining heritage through the most opulent of materials: 24-karat gold plating and hand-applied crystal beadwork.
A Statement Silhouette “IGOLIDE” is built around a sharply tailored bodice of lightweight alloy,
plated by hand in flawless 24-karat gold. Its high-arching neckline and contoured cups recall
the faceted lode of a precious nugget, while precision-cut laser seams articulate a dynamic
hourglass shape. At the waist, MASANGO’s signature gold belt cinches the form, inscribing a
bold horizontal line that balances the gown’s vertical energy and affirms Mihlali’s commanding
presence.
The bust is swept with gold crystal beads, each meticulously sewn in graduated clusters that
catch and refract every beam of Durban sunlight. The beading transitions from dense, jewellike empanelments at the yoke to a lighter, drift-like scatter along the hips, creating a visual
gradient that evokes molten ore flowing from shaft to surface. This subtle choreography
between density and airiness lends the gown a sense of kinetic luminosity as Mihlali moves.
The skirt’s drama unfolds through deep laser-cut Ndebele motifs—a series of angular
chevrons and zigzags. These negative-space carvings are inspired by the painted universes
of Esther Mahlangu and the stepped facades of Mpumalanga homesteads. At each stride,
glimpses of skin animate the geometry, transforming static pattern into living rhythm.
A Dialogue of Past and Future “IGOLIDE” is both a tribute and a provocation,” explains
Creative Director Siphosihle Masango. “By overlaying ancestral Ndebele forms onto a couture
structure of gold and crystal, we honor the labour of miners and artisans who shaped
Johannesburg—and ask what brilliance we might unearth today.”
Mihlali Ndamase dazzled in this “IGOLIDE” ensemble yesterday at the Hollywood Bet Durban July red carpet.
