SUNGLASS HUT PRESENTS
SUNGLASS HUT TAKES YOU THROUGH THE LENS TO MEET INSPIRING YOUNG SOUTH AFRICANS, AS WE CELEBRATE CREATIVITY.
DIRECTED BY | STEPHANIE O'CONNOR
FEATURING: OKMALUMKOOLKAT, MANTHE RIBANE, I SEE A DIFFERENT YOU, BHUBESI (BOYZ N BUCK$), THITHI NTETA, MILISUTHANDO BONGELA, PUNK & IVY, VIE AREM & EDA ROSE
Manthe ribane
There are creatives you meet through their work- and then there are ones who rearrange how you feel about creativity itself. Manthe Ribane is the latter. A musician, dancer, performance artist, and visual storyteller from Soweto, she moves between disciplines with a grace that feels intentional and deeply rooted. Many first encountered her through her collaborations with Die Antwoord, where her striking presence and movement left a lasting impression— but Manthe’s creative identity extends far beyond any single collaboration. Drawing from pantsula, voguing, and contemporary performance, she builds worlds through motion, rhythm, and space, inviting you to witness creativity that is intuitive, embodied, and unmistakably her own.
In this interview, we meet Manthe not as a performer or an idea, but as a presence— grounded, expressive, and alive in every gesture. Shot with an emphasis on light, movement, and thoughtful pauses, the video captures her as she navigates space with an intuitive sense of rhythm and identity, letting the camera linger on the subtle interplay between stillness and motion. Her style, fluid yet intentional, pairs naturally with the eyewear — not as an accessory, but as a frame through which her energy radiates. This isn’t just a portrait; it’s an invitation to witness how presence becomes art.
smiso zwane
Smiso Zwane — better known by his stage name Okmalumkoolkat — is one of South Africa’s most fearless creative voices. Born and raised in Umlazi township in Durban, he’s worked at the crossroads of hip-hop, fashion, design, and performance to shape a sound and style that feels both futuristic and deeply rooted in his own cultural experience. Half of the rap/electronic duo Dirty Paraffin, Smiso built his reputation not just through cutting-edge music but through a sharp visual sensibility that leaps off the screen and into the world. What he does isn’t just entertainment — it’s energy, identity, and imagination in motion.
In this piece, Smiso moves through space with a confidence that feels innate and alive. The camera captures him in a moment that is expressive, poised, and reflective — a visual rhythm that matches his creative flow. Light and shadow play across imagery that feels instinctive and raw, highlighting Smiso’s personal style as an extension of his energy rather than an accessory. Sunglass Hut’s frames become part of the story, supporting his presence without ever overpowering it — letting Smiso define the narrative with authenticity at the center.
I SEE A DIFFERENT You
There’s something powerful about creatives who decide to tell their own story instead of waiting for someone else to frame it. I See a Different You began as a photo and fashion blog started by three friends from Soweto — Vuyo Mpantsha and twins Justice and Innocent Mukheli — with one simple but radical intention: to document South Africa as they see it.
What makes their work special isn’t just the styling or the color — it’s the perspective. They revisit the spaces of their childhood across Johannesburg and reimagine them through fashion, nostalgia, and pride. High fashion meets history. Memory meets modernity. And everyday environments become cinematic again.
In this conversation, Vuyo, Justice and Innocent speak candidly about the origins of I See a Different You — a photo and fashion blog born from friendship, memory, and a desire to document South Africa through their own lens. What began as an organic creative outlet evolved into a visual archive of Soweto and Johannesburg, where high fashion meets everyday life.
BHUBESII
Bhubesii carries himself with a quiet kind of certainty — the kind that doesn’t need to announce itself. A creative voice shaped by rhythm, movement, and lived experience, he represents a generation that is redefining identity on its own terms. There’s depth in how he speaks, intention in how he moves, and clarity in how he shows up. He isn’t trying to fit into a narrative — he’s building one.
In this conversation, Bhubesii reflects on individuality, style, and the environments that shaped his perspective. The interview feels grounded and honest — a space where personal expression meets cultural influence. As he speaks, you sense how style becomes more than surface — it becomes language.
The eyewear subtly complements that energy, framing moments of thoughtfulness and confidence without distracting from the voice at the center. This isn’t about performance — it’s about presence. About how you carry yourself, and what that says before you even speak.