Sheli Masondo IS WEAVING STORIES THROUGH FASHION AND FILM

From Soweto's pavements to global stages, the award-winning costume designer is reshaping the narrative of African fashion in film. With credits that include Black Is King, How to Ruin Christmas and Shaka llembe, she stitches together heritage, identity and creativity in ways that resonate far beyond the screen.

- SINDEKA MANDOYI

Fashion has always been more than fabric and trends for Sheli. It has been a language, a vessel for storytelling and a bridge between history and contemporary culture. Growing up in Zola, Soweto, she discovered early on that clothes carried stories. Today, she is one of South Africa’s most celebrated costume designers, with a career that has seen her collaborate with global icons like Beyoncé, while also grounding her work in deeply African narratives.

GLAMOUR: Can you share how your journey in fashion and costume design began? Was there a defining moment that set you on this path?

Sheli Masondo: My journey began long before I even knew what costume design was. Growing up eZola, Soweto, I would lean against the concrete fence of our home and watch people walk past, coming from work, church, shebeens, jogging, or simply strolling. What I saw wasn’t just clothing; I saw stories walking. Later, after fashion design academy, I realised that storytelling through costume was what made me come alive. So when an art director approached me to join the film industry, I felt both excited and challenged. Over time, I grew to love the art of [styling] characters in film and television.

G: Who or what were your biggest influences when you were first starting out?

SM: One of my earliest influences was the groundbreaking TV series Yizo Yizo. It told authentic stories from an African perspective, gritty, raw and visually powerful. Watching it, I realised how costumes could add depth to storytelling and reflect the realities of our people. It shaped the way I thought about representation and inspired me to contribute to narratives that feel both real and unapologetically African.