For years, she has commanded the MTN Bushfire stage with her unmistakable energy, charisma and powerful voice.
Whether hosting the festival launches, leading thought-provoking conversations at the broadcast corners or taking charge of the main stage, Phiwo Dhlamini has become one of the familiar faces of the internationally acclaimed festival.
However, at this year’s MTN Bushfire Festival, the established media personality and the festival’s Communications Manager made another statement beyond the microphone – one stitched together through fabric, craftsmanship and a deep commitment to local creativity.
Through three carefully curated looks worn over the three-day festival, Dhlamini transformed the global stage into a runway celebrating Eswatini’s fashion industry, showcasing the country’s designers, stylists and accessories creators to thousands of visitors from around the world.
For Dhlamini, the decision to wear local was never simply about fashion.
It was a deliberate statement aligned with her long-standing “Love Local” mandate and a way of spotlighting the exceptional talent that exists within the country.
“My inspiration for my outfits at MTN Bushfire was really about celebrating the remarkable talent that we have in Eswatini. I was very intentional about showcasing local designers on a global stage and reinforcing the incredible craftsmanship and unmatched competency that our fashion designers possess,” she said.
She believes local designers have already proven that they can compete alongside some of the most celebrated names in the international fashion industry.
“It was my way of celebrating our designers and taking a stance on my Love Local mandate. Bushfire is always an incredible opportunity to celebrate local arts development in line with the festival’s mission, which cuts across various creative disciplines, from music to trading experiences in design and craftsmanship,” she said.
For the first day of the festival, Dhlamini stepped onto the stage in a striking two-piece creation by Crochet by Selu, styled by renowned local stylist Vanessa Gwebu.
The outfit, designed from scratch, featured floral details and vibrant colours intended to make a bold statement while highlighting the intricate craftsmanship that has become synonymous with the designer’s work.
She completed the look with earrings made by local creative Benanile Maphanga.
Dhlamini explained that her collaboration with Gwebu was intentional, as fashion extends beyond designers to include the wider ecosystem of stylists and fashion entrepreneurs.
“Vanessa was an easy and obvious choice. This is the second year I have worked with her after collaborating last year. She has an incredible portfolio and she has played a significant role in developing the fashion space through initiatives such as the annual festival style and cocktail runway show and her work with the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival,” she said.
For the second day, Dhlamini embraced a daring and dramatic denim ensemble by Ruff Cut, another respected local designer known for pushing boundaries with textures, fabrics and unconventional designs.
The standout feature of the outfit was a pair of customised, bedazzled wings that instantly captured attention.
Dhlamini revealed that she first spotted the wings during the 2024 Luju Festival runway showcase and immediately knew they belonged on the Bushfire stage one day.
“I told myself that I had to wear them at Bushfire. I got in touch with him and he created the skirt from scratch, upcycled and transformed the wings specifically for me,” she said.
The bold design reflected the freedom and creativity that festivals encourage.
“I felt incredibly confident wearing that piece. Festivals are an amazing platform to be loud with your style and to be unapologetically expressive. The wings especially made a huge statement and I loved his willingness to customise the design for me,” she said.
On the final day, Dhlamini combined the work of three local creatives to create a relaxed yet stylish look suited to the festival’s closing atmosphere.
The dress-style top was specially made by veteran designer Skhaleni, layered over a T-shirt designed by Ncwiki Flex.
She paired the outfit with jeans that were customised and bedazzled by Crochet by Selu, while her accessories included earrings from local brand Tandla Tami.
“The inspiration for the Sunday look was to match the easy-going mood of the festival. It was a dress-type situation but paired with jeans to give it that casual feel,” she explained.
Although her outfits received widespread admiration, Dhlamini says the mission extends far beyond personal style.
Each year, she intentionally chooses local fashion as a way of directing attention towards Eswatini’s wider creative economy, especially the Barn Marketplace where local and regional designers showcase and sell their work during MTN Bushfire.
“It is always amazing to see our local designers standing shoulder to shoulder with incredible designers from across the region. The aim is to direct traffic to the Barn Marketplace so that people attending from around the world can take a piece of Eswatini’s craftsmanship, design and creative prowess home with them,” she said.
She added that she intends to continue championing local fashion for years to come and encouraged Emaswati to look inward and support home-grown brands.
“I encourage locals to explore the ready-to-wear pieces that we have available and discover the amazing concepts that exist through platforms such as Ka Gogo Start-Up, Dala Spaces and Langa Concepts. We have so much talent at home and we should continue celebrating and investing in it,” she said.
Through her fashion choices, Dhlamini demonstrated that the MTN Bushfire stage is not only a platform for music and performance but also a powerful space where local fashion can meet the world, proving that Eswatini’s designers are ready to stand among the best.
