Born in 1994.
Presidential was conceived from the Presidential Shirt brand, manufacturer and supplier of the Madiba Shirt. “The Madiba shirt is a classic, not a fashion statement. Its rules are comfort and a dramatic graphic signature.”
Presidential has evolved and grown to include a variety of afro-centric products. It supports Made in South Africa. The authentic African shirts are made in our own factory in Cape Town.
Presidential is built on quality, integrity, generosity, history and is very fortunate to have the honorable Nelson Mandela as it’s first brand ambassador.
It seeks to promote his legacy and his values as embodied by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.Presidential Shirt supports job creation and Made in South Africa. The authentic African men's shirts are made in our own shirt factory in Cape Town.
A photograph published in Die Burger newspaper on 11 May 1994 shows Nelson Mandela at the dress rehearsal for the opening of Parliament. It was taken just moments before he stepped into his rightful place in South African history.
In the image, Mandela is surrounded by security guards and dignitaries, all dressed in conservative double-breasted suits and ties. In contrast, President Mandela appears relaxed and almost understated, as though he were a visitor rather than the central figure. Only two weeks earlier, he had been elected President in South Africa’s first free and truly democratic election, and the eyes of the world were now fixed upon him.
Mandela is wearing a loose black cotton batik shirt featuring brown fish swimming across the chest. The shirt was designed and supplied by Desré Buirski, who went on to create many printed and embroidered garments, as well as more than 150 hand-painted silk shirts for the President. Worn by Mandela on the world stage, these shirts became an integral part of his image and helped establish him as a global icon.
This is the origin of Presidential Shirt.
From the first cut of fabric in our factory to the final hand finished details, our shirts are created by our skilled artisans. The hum of the cutting room, the precision of our machinists and the passion of our team ensures that each piece carries the mark of true craftmanship.
When you wear Presidential Shirt, you wear more than style, you wear a story of heritage, quality and South African pride.
