Monkey Shoulder is keeping the creative fire burning after a bold takeover at Soweto Fashion Week 2025 last month. Known for being the whisky made for mixing, the brand did more than pour drinks—they stirred up the fashion scene in true disruptive style.
And now, the real heat begins: The Street Thread Battle is officially on.
Launched during Soweto Fashion Week’s opening night in May, this Johannesburg-based fashion competition is on the hunt for Mzansi’s next design trailblazer. It’s open to fashion students, rebels, and visionaries—anyone daring enough to mix things up on the runway.
Entries are open throughout until August 7, and aspiring designers are invited to submit their portfolios via the official splash page:
https://monkeyshoulderthreadbattle.webflow.io/
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- R20 000 in prize money
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For emerging talent, this isn’t just a prize—it’s a runway rocket-launch.
Monkey Shoulder’s presence at the May edition of Soweto Fashion Week wasn’t just about cocktails. The VIP lounge became a hub for creative energy, featuring bold cocktails, bold personalities, and an eye-catching mural curated by 2024 Brushstroke Battle winner George Mars. The space captured the season’s theme with punchy visuals that drew influencers, stylists, and celebs like moths to a flame.
It also debuted its first-ever fashion collaboration with Fulu Rathumbu, the creative mastermind behind BLANK Collection. Fulu showcased his Autumn/Winter Threads alongside a limited-edition Monkey Shoulder capsule—proving that when fashion and flavour mix, the results are unforgettable.
Now, Monkey Shoulder is keeping that momentum going into June with the Street Thread Battle—a campaign that celebrates emerging designers and gives them the tools, mentorship, and stage to shine.
So if you’re sitting on a killer portfolio, now’s the time to step forward. This is more than a competition—it’s a game-changing opportunity to be seen, heard, and celebrated in South Africa’s fashion future.
