Edition April 2026

This month, Public Sector Manager (PSM) magazine features the latest collection from Beautiful African Raiment (BAR) titled African Faces. Known for dressing confident men and women, BAR is a luxury brand celebrated for its high-quality garments that honour African heritage and culture.

Founder Rirhandzu Nukeri explains the inspiration behind the collection: “African Faces is a celebration of beauty that started by making patterns through scarification, to tattooing and now using cosmetic products to put colourful marks on your face, especially when wearing cultural attire.

The designs show how African culture and traditions can be incorporated in modern fashion. It is the art of beautification, identity and strength”.

Garments:

1. The dress at the back is R14 000.
2. Mohair cardigan
   R9 000.
3. The top for women with the head with tassels earrings - R2 500.
4. No price on the skirt
5. Golfers R5 000.
6. Shirt (cream and black)
   R5 200 inclusive of vat.
7. The two pieces for women (jackets with yarn fringe costs
   R11 000 and the pants cost R3 999).

In celebration of Freedom Month, PSM asked the young creative what freedom means to her. She described it as more than a distant ideal whispered through history –something she wears, embodies and continually redefines.

“Freedom,” she explained, “is no longer abstract; it lives in how I move, create, and express myself.”

On democracy, she noted, it has grown beyond ballots and policies. “It is present in access, visibility, and the courage to imagine a life that previous generations were denied. It is the quiet power of knowing that your existence, your dreams and your expression all matter”.

Yet, she acknowledges that freedom is layered and complex. With it comes the responsibility to recognise what still needs to change. With democracy comes the duty to question, challenge and expand the very definition of inclusion.

“A young South African woman stands in this tension between gratitude and hunger, between legacy and reinvention. She is both the result of progress and the driver of what comes next,” said Nukeri.

For her, freedom is not static. It is fluid, evolving and deeply personal. It is the right to define beauty in her own terms, to build, to disrupt, to exist fully in her identity without compromise. She views democracy as the very foundation of her future. ❖

About the designer

Hailing from the small town of Nkowankowa in Limpopo, Nukeri (above) founded BAR in 2022, drawing inspiration from her late grandfather’s distinctive style and the rich storytelling traditions of Africa.

Before launching the brand, she gained extensive experience in the cosmetics industry, where she remains actively engaged. This diverse background fuels her dedication to design and craftsmanship, enabling her to blend modern elegance seamlessly with African cultural heritage.

For enquiries, email
Sales@bar-sa.com.

You can also follow Nukeri
on Instagram: @Bar_sa_clothing

• Prices correct at the time of publishing.