Original Story Published by: Taahirah Martin for Design Indaba
These are the young creatives in the fashion industry who formed part of our Emerging Creatives programme for 2018.
Every year Design Indaba selects talented young creatives from across the country to participate in our Emerging Creatives programme. They range from photographers, graphic designers, fashion designers and more.
Past Design Indaba Emerging Creatives who have gone on to make an impact in fashion incude Laduma Ngxokolo and Katherine-Mary Pichulik. Here are more fashion creatives we hope will follow in their footsteps:
THANDAZANI NOFINGXANA
Nelson Mandela University graduate Thandazani Nofingxana has a bachelor’s degree in fashion visual arts and textile design. The Pretoria-based designer holds nothing back when it comes to his bold range which features bright patterns. Thandazani’s designs are a modern take on traditional African patterns mixed with stripes and other geometric patterns.
REFILOE MAPITSO THAISI
The University of Cape Town graduate has a Masters of Philosophy in Human Rights Law as well as a budding interest in the fashion scene. Her swimwear and active wear brand is called Shweshwekini, and it is all about merging cotemporary style with traditional textiles and representing her African culture. She designs her clothes to fit men and women of all sizes and shapes.
Speaking to IOL Lifestyle about the brand she said: "The brand is about embracing the rich cultural essence of the Basotho people with men and women everywhere. I use active wear as a medium of telling my cultural story through the eclectic styles and bright colours of the shweshwe prints. In doing so, I am targeting an area of apparel that is usually neglected by most black designers - swimwear."
