“Before The Bell Rang” is a fashion collection rooted in a vital historical truth: the Soweto Uprising did not begin on 16 June 1976. Instead, it was the public culmination of a long, complex build-up of resistance, political consciousness, and quiet courage. Before young people stepped onto the streets, an entire generation was already being shaped by the ideas, influences, and leaders who cultivated a deep sense of Black self-worth and the courage to resist.

The collection acknowledges the often-unseen groundwork laid by figures such as Steve Biko, Solomon Mahlangu, and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela—visionaries whose lives and legacies fuelled a broader culture of Black Consciousness. Before The Bell Rang looks beyond the single moment of uprising, turning its lens toward the intellectual, emotional, and political atmosphere that took root long before it made headlines.

At the centre of the collection is the deconstructed school uniform. Traditionally associated with discipline, control and conformity, the uniform is reimagined through disrupted silhouettes and displaced ties. These interventions symbolise a break away from imposed structures, mirroring the ways in which young people began to reject the limitations forced upon them. The garments exist in a state of tension—between order and rebellion, discipline and disruption, past and present.

The visual language of the collection is also informed by the words of Solomon Mahlangu: “My blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom.” This sentiment resonates through the collection's emotional and deeply symbolic print language, which holds both pain and hope. Barbed wire appears as a recurring symbol, representing the resilience and strength of the youth of 1976 while acknowledging the pain and violence endured in the struggle for freedom.

Photographed at Constitutional Hill, the lookbook situates these ideas within a space deeply connected to South Africa's history of resistance, incarceration and the ongoing pursuit of freedom. The location becomes a fitting backdrop for a collection concerned with the consciousness that existed before resistance became publicly visible—a physical reminder that the struggle was shaped long before the defining moments that history remembers most prominently.

Before The Bell Rang is ultimately both an act of remembrance and a continuation of a legacy. As Black creatives, the designers recognise that the freedom to create, question and redefine identity is part of the reality that previous generations imagined and fought towards. 

Fashion becomes the canvas through which that freedom is exercised—honouring the past while making space to disrupt, reimagine, and exist beyond boundaries others were forced to fight against. 

The project was developed under The Internship by David Tlale - a programme dedicated to empowering emerging creatives with the opportunity to develop their voices and engage with the fashion industry through mentorship, collaboration, and creative practice.

Photoshoot images: Before the Bell Rang Lookbook

Designers: Athi Bekwa  & Gcinubuhle Nyambose 

Photographer: Tshepo Phala 

Models: Keamokgetswe Kayla Shai ; Precious Skosana & Rethabile Koro