Lesego Malatsi - SouthAfrica.TO

I N D W E S A F A S H I O N S P E C I A L
“It has been a constant struggle
for me to break into fashion,” he
says. “The Branson Centre gave me
a leg-up and people started taking
notice. Thanks to Richard Branson
people changed the way they looked
at my business. It gave credibility to
my company. The attitude was that
if Branson believes in him we should
try him out. And when they tried me
out one of their fears was dispelled
because they saw that I could deliver.”
With the help of Virgin Unite
Malatsi could open the Mzansi
Designer Emporium and immediately
vowed to give help to other young
South African designers.
“When I set up that company
I had an express mandate to try
and help other fledgling designers
because, as designers, we struggle
for opportunities,” he explains. “It
is a very small, congested market
in South Africa and we have cheap
imports coming from China and
other countries. The more people
look outside the country for things
the more the local fashion industry
will suffer. We need people to buy
locally because it will help us to grow.
And to convince people to buy local
designs what we need to do is impose
ourselves onto the world and stamp
our authority and prove ourselves.”
Having proved himself in London,
Malatsi hope others will follow his
example and take South African
fashion to a global market.
“Hopefully with my success in
the UK it is going to be easier for
other South African designers to
also break into that market,” he
says. “It would be fantastic if a new
generation of designers can, through
successful businesses, help alleviate
poverty, celebrate our Rainbow
Nation and contribute to the world
of fashion internationally.”
THE CUTTING EDGE
South African designers who are
setting runways alight with hot fashion
Laduma Ngxokolo
The award-winning designer
showed off his vibrant MaXhosa
knitwear patterns (above) at
London Fashion Week this year.
Black Coffee
Designing duo Jacques van der
Watt and Danica Lepen have been
a hit on runways around the world
with their ethnic prints, beaded
tunics and headdresses, which they
combine with flamboyant silk skirts.
Clive Rundle
Known for stripping down a fashion
collection to its essence and
rebuilding it, Rundle recently put
on a show in Antwerp using only
one piece of fabric, and creating
a collection in only one week.
Stiaan Louw
Louw was awarded the Best
Menswear Designer Africa at
Africa Fashion Awards in 2010.
David Tlale
The visionary designer behind such
lines as the Green Collection for the
Voluptuous Women of Mzansi has now
opened a new flagship store in Sandton.
Thula Sindi
The man who has provided garments
for the likes of Caprice, Noni Gasa
and Busi Lurayi, has just signed a
distribution deal with Edgars Stores.
Suzaan Heyns
For her latest collection the hugely
talented designer produced
stunning garments with warm
earth tones tailored with hints
of Roman-Greek influences.
Tamara Dyson
The winner of this year’s Vodacom
Durban July Young Designer Award with
a stunning creation is clearly coming
to a runway near you very soon.
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NOVEMBER 2011 INDWE