Michelle Obama rocks MaXhosa AFRICA and custom Thebe Magugu designs

by Staff Bona

Former First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, wore local luxury designer brands, MaXhosa AFRICA and custom Thebe Magugu, during her philanthropic visit to Cape Town.

While seated alongside influential women such as former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique Graça Machel, global philanthropist Melinda French Gates, and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to discuss a way to empower women and girls, and help end child marriage in their communities, Michelle opted to wear a MaXhosa AFRICA Alkebulan Showstopper dress from the AW/SS22 collection.

 

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A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama)

On X (formerly known as Twitter), the luxury South African brand explained that the multi-coloured pleated dress Michelle wore is named after what is believed to be the original name of the African continent, Alkebulan, which dates back to pre-colonisation.

“Alkebulan is considered the continent’s oldest and most indigenous name, with translations such as ‘mother of mankind’ or, according to some sources, ‘the garden of Eden,'” they added.

Michelle was also seen wearing Thebe Magugu’s Heirloom Set – a creation where people can customise, honour and memorialise anyone who has left an impact on them by having an image of the person printed on the garment.

“Mrs Obama asked us to immortalise her mother Marian Shields Robinson on her Heirloom Set,” wrote Thebe on X in reference to a video of Michelle wearing his designs.

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