Some teams just have it - that quiet, collective confidence that fills a room before the door closes behind you. The kind that whispers, we take the utmost pride in our work. With a touch of we mean business - and we dress the part...
This year, that energy belongs to Mphela & Associates Attorneys, the worthy winners of South Africa's Best-Dressed Team Award 2025 - a Pretoria-based law firm that's rewriting what professionalism looks like in the modern workplace. But don't let their sharp, courtroom-ready composure fool you, when they heard the news, the entire team absolutely erupted – and went slightly but delightfully feral with excitement! We’re talking pure joy, big laughs, and smiles that are going to hurt in the morning.
Mphela & Associates have been an Imagemakers client since 2016 - way before hashtags and awards were shoutouts, we've been dressing their team in corporate clothing pieces that are sharp but grounded - the kind of style that in fact doesn't shout, it simply arrives. Over the past 9 years, we've seen their look evolve, but never lose its centre: dignity. They wear their reputation as gracefully as they wear their wardrobe.
But this story isn't just about uniforms. It's about how a group of people found pride and identity through what they wear, and how that daily ritual has quietly shaped their bond and way they work together.
"Our style tells our story," said the Mphela team in their entry. "Professional, prepared, and proud of what we do. Dressing well is part of the respect we show our clients and each other."
That's the part that caught our attention. They weren't trying to impress - they were reflecting the respect that runs through their culture. Every suit, every pressed shirt, every coordinated look says: We care.
When we asked what dressing with pride means to them, their answer was simple and memorable:
"It's about attitude. When you take the time to present yourself well, it changes how you feel, how you work, and how others experience you. It's not vanity - it's respect."
In a world where corporate wear is often treated as optional, they've made it essential - not out of obligation, but out of pride. And that's exactly what this award celebrates.
We've seen incredible creativity across South Africa's workplaces this year, from bright prints in marketing agencies to precision tailoring in finance teams - but Mphela & Associates stood out for something rarer: authentic consistency. The kind of elegance that feels effortless because it's built on intent and woven into the very fabric of their company culture.
So, here's to them - a team that proves professionalism isn't about stiff collars or strict dress codes, but about showing up for their clients, for each other, every day, with purpose.
Congratulations to Mphela & Associates, Pretoria and thank you for such an incredible day last Friday! Myself and the Imagemakers team arrived back on Monday with the kind of joy that can only be paid forward.
