This rejuvenated city square is the heart of Johannesburg's original clothing manufacturing district and is the place to head for pan-African-style inspiration and shopping. Not a conventional shopping mall, rather a hub for fashion talent, with a college nearby Fashion Kapitol has an outdoor catwalk for showcasing the latest designs from students and designers who have stores there and Saturdays are generally show days.

Around 30 retail and lifestyle-related stores are built around the public square, and the innovative Fashion Kapitol team have also created affordable office space for fashion start-ups, event planners and graphic designers.

Stop by on for a monthly themed fashion show (see their Facebook page for updates). While there, head to Studio 109 (tel. +27 11 333 3060) for an incredible selection of wax-print fabrics and the original Three Cats shweshwe (once used by traditional Xhosa women and now de rigueur in any Afro-chic fashionista’s wardrobe). At Fruitcake Vintage you’ll bump into the coolest cats in town being styled by Sthembiso Mngadi, the co-owner. For African-inspired haute couture make an appointment with Bongiwe Walaza who has a store on the square (tel. + 27 11 333 1098), and order a light lunch from the Fashion Shack (on Wednesdays the excellent fish and chips special is R21).

The 20 or so demarcated city blocks around Fashion Kapitol house clothing stores, fabric shops, plus loads of small manufacturers. See Tours for guided shopping trips around the area. The Fashion Kapitol is easy to reach on the city's Rea Vaya BRT bus. Get off at the station Fashion Square, either North or South bound.