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.
Milisuthando bongela
Milisuthando Bongela has a way of speaking that makes you pause and listen a little closer. Thoughtful, sharp, and deeply self-aware, she moves through the world with a perspective shaped by culture, memory, and curiosity. Whether through writing, storytelling, or conversation, she brings nuance to spaces that often ask people to simplify themselves. There’s an honesty in the way she expresses herself — reflective without losing warmth, intellectual without losing feeling.
In this conversation, Milisuthando reflects on identity, personal style, and the layered relationship between self-expression and visibility. The interview unfolds with a sense of ease and introspection, allowing her perspective to guide the rhythm of the piece.
As she speaks, style becomes more than aesthetics — it becomes an extension of confidence, memory, and individuality. The eyewear complements that presence naturally, framing moments of reflection without taking attention away from the voice at the center. What emerges is a portrait of someone deeply connected to who they are and intentional about how they move through the world.
THITHI NTETA
Thithi Nteta carries a presence that feels both effortless and intentional. There’s a softness in the way she moves through the world, but also a quiet confidence that grounds her completely. As a model and creative, she brings more than beauty to the frame — she brings perspective, emotion, and individuality. The kind of energy that reminds you that personal style is never just about what you wear, but how honestly you inhabit yourself.
In this conversation, Thithi reflects on identity, personal expression, and the subtle ways style shapes how we move through the world. The interview feels intimate and reflective, allowing her perspective to unfold naturally through conversation rather than performance.
The eyewear complements that energy quietly — adding to the feeling of confidence and self-possession without overtaking the moment. What remains at the center is presence: the comfort of someone showing up fully as themselves.
punk + ivy
Punk + Ivy bring a kind of energy that feels playful, expressive, and completely self-defined. As a creative duo, they blur the lines between style, identity, and artistic experimentation, building a world that feels both rebellious and intentional. There’s freedom in the way they present themselves — unafraid to mix softness with edge, nostalgia with futurism, individuality with collaboration. Their presence feels less about fitting into a scene and more about creating one of their own.
In this conversation, Punk + Ivy reflect on creativity, self-expression, and the evolving relationship between fashion and identity. The interview unfolds with spontaneity and personality, revealing the dynamic between the duo and the shared vision that shapes their work.
Style becomes a form of storytelling throughout the piece — not something separate from who they are, but an extension of how they think, create, and move through the world. The eyewear naturally complements that perspective, adding another layer to a visual language rooted in confidence, experimentation, and individuality.
VIE AREM
Vie Arem carries herself with a confidence that feels deeply internal — expressive without ever trying too hard. There’s an ease in the way she speaks about creativity, identity, and personal style that makes everything feel intentional rather than performative. Her perspective feels modern, self-aware, and grounded in authenticity, reminding you that individuality often lives in the smallest details: how you carry yourself, how you see the world, and how you choose to be seen within it.
In this conversation, Vie Arem reflects on personal expression, creative influence, and the relationship between confidence and style. The interview unfolds naturally, allowing moments of introspection and personality to shape the rhythm of the piece.
Throughout the conversation, style is presented not as image alone, but as an extension of identity and mood. The eyewear subtly reinforces that feeling — complementing the atmosphere without distracting from the honesty of the dialogue. What emerges is a portrait of someone embracing self-expression with clarity, openness, and intention.
EDA ROSE
Eda Rose has a presence that feels both gentle and self-assured — the kind of energy that draws you in without demanding attention. There’s thoughtfulness in the way she expresses herself, balancing softness with a clear sense of individuality. She approaches style and creativity in a way that feels personal rather than performative, reminding you that confidence doesn’t always need volume to be felt.
n this conversation, Eda Rose reflects on identity, personal style, and the ways creativity shapes how we present ourselves to the world. The interview unfolds with warmth and honesty, creating space for moments that feel intimate and reflective rather than overly polished.
Throughout the piece, style becomes an extension of emotion and personality — subtle, expressive, and deeply connected to self-awareness. The eyewear naturally complements that atmosphere, adding to the feeling of quiet confidence that carries through the conversation.