Helon Melon at SA Fashion Week

Helen Gibbs has been part of South African Fashion Week for many seasons, presenting collections that reflect Helon Melon’s commitment to natural fibres, local production and design without limits. Each season is an opportunity to share new work with the industry and with the customers who have followed the brand since 1995.

For Spring/Summer 2026, Helen focused on texture and volume. Raffia details and textured surfaces were paired with puffed skirts and balloon trousers, combining playful shapes with careful construction. As with every Helon Melon collection, the materials and the making process remained at the heart of the work.

Last season, Gibbs documented and published the complete journey behind her collection. This season, Always On, she explores the expressive power of film and movement, showing a brand that is always moving and always evolving.

Her involvement reaches beyond her own collections. Helen continually considers how her knowledge, energy and experience can strengthen the SAFW ecosystem and the creative fashion design industry in South Africa. After thirty years as an independent designer, she remains committed to supporting the industry that helped shape her.

View our SAFW lookbooks and runway films below.