Zizi Cardow is a forerunner in contemporary African fashion. She founded her self-named haute couture label in 2000, and pioneered a revolution for wearing indigenous African fabrics, with a view towards globalization. From 2001 her designs could be seen on the runways of South Africa, Italy, France and the UK. In 2002 she staged a first-of-a-kind fashion show dubbed ‘Jungle Renaissance’ which received local and international rave reviews and critical acclaim.