MUSICIAN Saso Ngcobo is raising the bar for this year's Hollywoodbets Durban July.
After winning Best Marquee at the 2025 event, Saso's Marquee Experience has partnered with MaXhosa Africa to deliver a unique collaboration blending culture and luxury fashion.
Background
Saso, a member of the popular hip-hop group Dream Team, launched his marquee at the Durban July in 2024.
This year, he'll feature a fashion show by MaXhosa Africa at the iconic event, taking place at Hollywoodbets Greyville in Durban, KZN on Saturday, 4 July.
The collaboration
Saso's Marquee Experience and MaXhosa Africa aim to create an immersive space where fashion, culture, hospitality, and entertainment come together for a race day experience unlike any other.
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Saso (35), from Durban, told Daily Sun that he has worked with MaXhosa Africa since 2024, but this year they're taking their partnership to another level by hosting a fashion show for the first time during Durban July.
"In previous years, the collaboration has been focused on homeware and lifestyle. This year, we've decided to include a fashion show in the experience. The goal is to achieve a collaborative experience like no other - a fusion of lifestyle, culture, fashion, luxury and music. We also want to create a moment and experience that will live forever in people's memories.
"They can expect an experience that is not only based on horses and fashion, but a space where we can connect and experience all the brands we've partnered with in their purest form, with activations and brand experiences that you wouldn't usually find in most marquees. Also, a chance to be part of something that is breaking boundaries and bringing change to how the Durban July can be perceived. This will be a moment that lives in history," he said.
He stated that every year they set a goal and exceed their own expectations. So, they plan on achieving even more each year, with the vision and dream growing bigger, always aiming to achieve whatever they set their hearts on. He hopes to win Best Marquee again.
MaXhosa Africa's perspective
MaXhosa Africa founder Laduma Ngxokolo said partnering with Saso's Marquee Experience creates opportunities to extend the brand's reach in KZN, a province that has welcomed them warmly.
"We're glad to be showcasing another extension of our brand, which is the atelier, the bespoke offering and our MaXhosa lifestyle. We're honoured to get to a stage where we are able to showcase who we are as a brand beyond just the fashion but introduce our elements of curation and contribution to popular culture. In partnership with culture curators such as Saso's Collection, our message becomes clearer," he said.
