The Johannesburg Rand Revolt officially ended yesterday in 1922. Today, our only rebellion is the ruthless battle against dry taps. Welcome to Melville Untold, the place where we make sense of the local trenches so you don't have to.

In this week’s newsletter:

• Why The Melville Fashion Scene Is Primed To Explode 👚

• Celebrating The End of The 7th Street Upgrades 🧹

• A Local Stay Review At Die Agterplaas B&B 🏡

— Aubrey Moloto, Kele Jackson

The Digest

Why The Melville Fashion Scene Is Primed To Explode 👚

We have all witnessed the sheer force of the Melville Art Mile and what happens when our community successfully reclaims its public spaces. The streets hum with energy, foot traffic returns, and the local economy breathes a massive sigh of relief. But if art is the current heartbeat of Melville, fashion is its rapidly expanding lungs.

Our local fashion ecosystem is an intricately woven network of slow fashion, bespoke tailoring, and curated vintage. It is an abundant landscape that proves you do not need a mega mall to find world-class style. You just need to know which door to look in. Here’s a guide to the makers, the thrifters, and the tailors holding down our sidewalks.

Men’s & Streetwear: The Modern Edge 

Melville’s epicentre of modern menswear lives in the shipping containers of 27 Boxes. Here, you will find Sbhiva, a brand established in 2017 that draws its unique aesthetic from classic VW Beetles. They do not just print logos; they engineer garments. "We tell stories through different fabrics," Sihle, the founder explains. "For instance, we made a functional t-shirt inspired by the pocket of a Beetle, complete with map pockets."

Just around the corner on the ground floor is Derwin Palette, where founder Zolani “Derwin” prioritises tactile quality over fast fashion trends. As Zolani noted, "Customers shop with their eyes, but they also shop with their hands."

Rounding out the heavyweight trio is SUHU Original. Founded by twin brothers Silosethu and Silosekhaya Kondleka during the pandemic, the brand effortlessly blends luxury with streetwear. They are creating lifetime clothing pieces with a global aesthetic, proving that you can build an international footprint without leaving the village.

Street Style & The Melville Uniform 

The Melville aesthetic is heavily defined by how our residents actually wear their clothes in the wild. This lived-in philosophy is perfectly captured by independent designers Siya and Siyaka at the Melville Mansions, who founded Junior and I Made It brands, respectively. Junior, named affectionately after what Siyaka's father used to call his mother, focuses strictly on meticulously cut, semi-formal pants using anti-wrinkle fabrics.

The gap was spotted by Siya, who wanted to create a daily "uniform". Working alongside a partner who creates matching denim and kimono sets, their ethos is simple: create a reliable outfit that fits perfectly and removes the daily stress of deciding what to wear. You put it on, and you know it is your style.

This emphasis on authentic, deeply personal style was echoed by Sebs, a patron we spoke to at Jo'Anna Melt Bar. True fashion in Melville is not about conforming to a trend but relying on the small, highly personal details that solidify your identity. Pointing to a ring he inherited from his brother 11 years ago, which he now famously uses to open bottles at the bar, "Seventh Street is a place where you come out with your personality, your expression, and as long as you are authentic, you will be received."

Ladies Fashion: The Soul of Slow Fashion

Melville has long been a sanctuary for independent female designers and curators. At the Bamboo Lifestyle Centre, Convoy operates as a collaborative retail space housing multiple South African designers under one roof. Whether it is Hearts & Heritage, Sitting Pretty, or the audaciously named 'Sh*t's Not Tailored', Convoy caters perfectly to the local demographic. As Bethany, the store manager points out, they attract artists and poets looking for something entirely different from the mainstream catalogue.

Across the road at 7th Avenue and 9th Street, the legacy of Superella and Black Coffee continues to thrive. With Ella Buter having relocated to the Western Cape, Jacques from Black Coffee has taken over the physical space to ensure the loyal Superella tribe is not left wanting. Jacques captures the essence of their clientele perfectly: "I think Melville is one of the most liberal suburbs in Joburg. It is a more authentic representation of what South Africa has to offer."

For those seeking history, Rosemary's Reminiscene is the undisputed grand dame of Melville vintage. Having traded for 30 years, Rosemary sources authentic pieces dating from the 1970s backwards. Her appeal is the exclusivity of the hunt. "It is this one piece, this one size, and that is it," she explains. "You are not going into a chain store and finding ten of every size." Her secret to nearly three decades of business? "Your word is your bond."

Shoppers looking to blend sustainability with high-end labels should also keep an eye out for Reluxe Vintage Fashion at 27 Boxes, who specialise in breathing new life into pre-loved luxury items.

The Thrift & Leather Ecosystem

A true fashion destination requires an underbelly of raw, unpolished treasure hunting. Melville delivers this through vital community hubs like Bounty Hunters and Hotel Hope on Main Road, where your thrift purchases directly fund charity initiatives.

For leather enthusiasts, KevDon on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 7th Street remains a staple with a wide range of gems and jewels, Doc Martens, denim and accessories. If you need bespoke repairs on the fly, Sam, across from KevDon, one of our resident street vendors, expertly fixes shoes and bags with genuine leather right on the pavement. Sam sells a small range of genuine leather products too. And for the heavy international  streetwear label heads, there’s a small thrift store tucked inside the Crowe’s Nest called – that holds labels you’ve probably only seen online! The reliable racks at U-turn thrift also offer hours of sustainable digging.

The Tailors & Indie Designers: The Bespoke Touch

No fashion district is complete without the people wielding the needles. Oktober Fashion, run by Benji Oktober, is a bespoke design house that tackles everything from high school matric dance banquets to high profile galas. "We don't just do ready-to-wear," Benji says. "Clients bring us what they want, and we make it for them."

Alongside Benji, the suburb is held together by independent designers and seamstresses like the beloved Wishes Boutique Fashion in JAM, Mawhethu, Falcon Adams, and many more. They are the essential fabric of our local economy, ensuring that whether you need a matric dance dress or a simple hem repair, the talent is always within walking distance.

The Melville fashion scene is not just surviving; it is quietly preparing for an explosion. The next time you need to update your wardrobe, skip the sterile mall lighting. Take a walk down the avenues, meet the makers, feel the fabrics, and invest in a community that wears its history with absolute pride.

Enjoyed this pulse check of Melville’s Fashion scene? Consider buying us a coffee – It keeps the newsletter going.

What’s Happenin’ 🤔

From book discussions to pottery workshops, the cultural scene is packed this week. Make sure you check out the revamped Melville Pulse calendar for the full schedule.

For more updates as the week goes on, visit our Instagram page @snapson7th or our Melville Pulse event calendar

Melville Weather For The Week ☔️

Thursday  

27° 🌡️ 16° | 🌤️ | 🌧️ 25% | NNE 11 km/h 💨

Friday 

26° 🌡️ 15° | 🌩️ | 🌧️ 55% | N 11 km/h 💨

Saturday 

26° 🌡️ 15° | 🌤️ |  🌧️ 55% | NNE 6 km/h 💨

Sunday

20° 🌡️ 15° | 🌦️ | 🌧️ 63% | N 11 km/h 💨

Monday 

25° 🌡️ 15° | ⛅️ | 🌧️ 55% | NNW 9 km/h 💨

Tuesday 

26° 🌡️ 17° | ⛅️ |  🌧️ 25% | N 4 km/h 💨

Live & Music Events 🎸

Whether you want a relaxed jazz quintet or a high energy jam, our local venues are delivering a stellar audio line-up to kick off your weekend

Biz Bites 📂

Agterplaas: A Local Stay Review

We are currently between homes and had to temporarily relocate. In true community spirit, the good people at Die Agterplaas B&B took us in for the week. If you need a spot for visiting family or a quiet venue for a breakfast meeting, we highly recommend it.

• The Vibe: Incredible tranquillity. Sitting on their balcony by the windmill overlooking the Melville Koppies offers the cleanest air and the quietest reading spot in the suburb. You are also less than a minute's walk from the main business node.

• The People: The staff are incredibly welcoming, and the communal breakfast tables foster brilliant networking. I ended up having a fascinating chat with a Wits professor named Alan about what living in Melville in the 70's was like and later frequenting Baseline.

• The Facilities: Comfortable beds and phenomenal breakfasts featuring fresh vetkoek, ham, fruit salads, and endless filter coffee. Crucially, they have robust solar and JoJo tank backups, which was an absolute lifesaver during yesterday's all day power outage.

• The Catch: There is no guest access to the kitchen for lunch or dinner prep, so be prepared to eat out or order in later in the day or make prior arrangements with them.

Musical Chairs On 4th

The commercial property ladder is seeing some serious movement. A new shawarma eatery is confirmed to be opening where ZA ETC. used to be. Down the road, there is activity at the old De La Creme site (we have heard the sphaza shop rumours, but we will wait for official confirmation before declaring anything). Meanwhile, Baalbek is reopening bigger and better at the old Bounty Hunters property, completely upgrading their setup after De Baba successfully moved into Baalbek's original, previously fire-damaged spot in the last couple of weeks.

The block, on the east side, stretching from 3rd Avenue to 1st is now fully tenanted for the first time since the COVID lockdowns. The final piece of the puzzle is Dala Dank, a new dispensary that just opened its doors between Good Omens and Kevdon. We can't always choose the types of businesses that come in, but it's a massive economic win to see zero vacancies on that strip! As the store manager, Sherry, notes about their arrival in Melville, "The party scene is changing. It is not becoming like the clubbing we all know from before. It is becoming more chilled out... a place for all." Welcome to the strip Dala.

The Revamped Events Calendar

We have officially upgraded our gig guide. Event organisers can now submit their events directly on our site to be featured. A quick plea to all organisers using Quicket: please provide us with promo affiliate links. Our newsletter is entirely free to read, and when our readers buy tickets through those links, it directly supports the countless hours we put into building this publication.

Civil Matters 👷‍♀️

Goodbye 7th Street Upgrades & Hello The Big Clean up

The extensive infrastructural upgrades along 7th Street are finally wrapping up just in time for The Happening festival on the 28th of March. Driven by CREASS, the project has been a massive undertaking. Project lead Danny sums up the relief perfectly: "Happy that the end is in sight. It has been a long journey... we've gone from looking droopy to uplifted, and the street is looking happy."

To celebrate the end of the construction and cap off the upgrades, the MBA and The Happening organising committee are hosting a community clean-up this Saturday. Organisers Cobi and Melissa want to recapture the massive community spirit we saw at the last major clean up before the Happening. The goal is to beautify our business node, wash down the pavements, and, as Cobi notes, "get rid of all the millions of little taggings everywhere" while adding "some funky little bits of colour."

This is a fun, highly rewarding way to spend a morning and visually improve our neighbourhood.

• When: This Saturday at 10:00.

• Where: Meet in front of the old Dukes Burgers (next to Jo'Anna Melt Bar).

• What to bring: Wear your oldest clothes and bring paints, brushes, or any spare cleaning products you have. "We are not asking for a lot," says Cobi. "Even if you come spend 30 minutes, or if you don't have the time, send someone or bring us some supplies."

Melville Art Mile 🎨 

MAM's Digital Home

The official landing page for the Melville Art Mile is live. As we slowly integrate all our assets into the events calendar website, this page will serve as your central hub. You can view past highlights, fill out vendor and artist participation forms, and crucially, download your event maps and programmes.

• Tickets: The 2026 season tickets are live. Do not sleep on the VIP tour; the value for money is exceptional. Get yours here: https://melville-pulse-calendar-production.up.railway.app/mam

• Late Submissions: We know we are a bit behind schedule this week, so we are extending the MAM application deadline. You have from today (19 March) until Friday, the 20th of March to get your late submissions in. Final participant lists drop next week!

Tail End 🐾

Should Cats Leave The Yard?

There has been debate in the community groups recently regarding domestic cats roaming outside their yards, especially following a few tragic accidents. It is a highly sensitive topic, but according to our own little research, keeping cats contained is generally the safest option for both the pet and the local birdlife.

If you want to keep your cats safe but cannot afford expensive commercial enclosures, there are excellent budget-friendly ways to pet-proof your garden. You can install angled netting at the top of your boundary walls to prevent climbing, or use the "PVC roller" trick, stringing PVC pipes on a wire along the top of your fence so it spins when a cat tries to gain purchase. A little DIY goes a long way in keeping our furry residents safe and sound. 

Want to weigh in on the topic? Reply to this email.

Extra Sprinkles 🧁 

Jannie Celebrates 55 Years On The Stage!

If you read our issue about The Story Of Die Agterplaas, you'd that Jannie du Toit, the founder, is an absolute Melville icon. But his impact goes far beyond our hood's borders. This year, Jannie is celebrating an unbelievable 55 years on stage!

To mark this massive milestone, he is hosting the "Kunstefees in die Kleine" (Mini Arts Festival) at the Centurion Theatre in Pretoria from the 17th to the 19th of April. Presented in partnership with Pretoria FM and Vonk Musiek, the weekend features five entirely unique shows that capture different eras and genre’s of his legendary career:

• Friday, 17 April (19:30) Margaretastraat: A powerful retrospective of the 1981 and 1982 soirées at his Pretoria home, which served as a major driving force behind the Musiek en Liriek movement.

• Saturday, 18 April (11:00) Ramkietjie: A heartfelt tribute to the FAK Sangbundel and its place in Afrikaans cultural heritage.

• Saturday, 18 April (15:00) De Wals van de Liefde: A collection of his finest renditions of Dutch songs - featuring piano and sax. As Die Burger perfectly described it, this performance "enchants from beginning to end."

• Saturday, 18 April (19:30) Luister na die Liedjies: Music straight from the heart. Jannie is joined by his top ensemble (featuring cello, piano, and flute), the SingFonix men's ensemble, and Daniellé Botes for a special rendition of Afdraaipad.

• Sunday, 19 April (15:00) Oppiekitaar: Just Jannie and his guitar, fresh off a run of standing ovations in the Benelux last year.

The Ticket Breakdown

The ticketing structure is cleverly set up to reward you for seeing more than one show:

• 1 show: R210

• 2 shows: R190

• 3 shows: R170

• 4 shows: R150

• Full Weekend Pass: R550 (which works out to an absolute steal at just R110 per show!)

You can book your seats directly via Quicket right here.

For the discounted bundles, drop them a WhatsApp on 063 376 4982.

And if you want to dive deeper into his local legacy, read more about the story of Agterplaas and Jannie's journey right here.

Thank you! 🙏

That's that! Another neighbourhood pulse check, done. If this Melville Untold came in clutch, consider buying us a coffee. You can now tip us using Snap Scan.

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’Til next week,

Stay lively, stay laughing, stay legendary.

Swarrtotmaal ✌️