Monkey Shoulder Threads the Needle at Soweto Fashion Week with a New Streetwear Showdown

The Street Thread Battle is now open! Fashion students, rebels, visionaries - this one's for them.
This May, Monkey Shoulder traded whisky barrels for wardrobe rails as the brand stepped into Soweto Fashion Week 2025 as the official pouring partner - and they didn't come to pour quietly in the corner. They came to mix things up - fitting, considering that they are the only whisky that's made for mixing.
In true Monkey Shoulder style, the VIP lounge wasn't just a drinks station - it was a full-blown immersive experience. Think bold cocktails, bold people, and a bold mural, curated to reflect the Soweto Fashion Week theme by 2024 Brushstroke Battle winner, George Mars. His work brought the space to life with a creative energy that had influencers, stylists, and celebs snapping faster than one can say 'neat, or on the rocks?'
But that wasn't all Monkey Shoulder had up their tailored sleeves.
On opening night (Wednesday, 7 May), the ever-stylish Shamiso Mosaka joined the affair to officially launch the next frontier of Monkey Shoulder's creative movement: the Street Thread Battle - a Johannesburg-based search for the next young fashion designer who dares to disrupt the runway.
The Street Thread Battle is now open! Fashion students, rebels, visionaries - this one's for them. By submitting their portfolios via the splash page [https://monkeyshoulderthreadbattle.webflow.io/], entrants stand the chance to:
Win R20,000 in prize money
Collaborate with the iconic BLANK Collection
Receive a personal mentorship from designer Fulu Rathumbu
And here's the mic-drop moment: showcase their own collection at Soweto Fashion Week in November 2025
That's not just a win. That's a game-changer.
Speaking of change-makers, this year's runway also toasted the first-ever Monkey Shoulder fashion collaboration, featuring none other than Fulu Rathumbu, the creative force behind BLANK Collection. Fulu debuted both his signature Autumn/Winter Threads and the limited-edition Monkey Shoulder capsule, where fashion met flavour in the freshest way possible.
Monkey Shoulder is beyond excited to continue this journey with Fulu and the soon-to-be Street Thread champ. The future of fashion just got a playful whisky twist.
Ready to thread the needle? Entries are open now at https://monkeyshoulderthreadbattle.webflow.io/
Monkey Shoulder encourages everyone to enjoy our whisky responsibly. Please drink mindfully and ensure a safe journey home. Only for individuals over the legal drinking age.
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