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Launching a Clothing Range through Pick 'n Pay Clothing – Katekani Moreku
BY WAHEEDA PETERS
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Katekani Moreku (29) has paved the way for other cultural designers by launching a proudly South African clothing range through Pick ’n Pay Clothing in 2020.
Katekani Moreku DUT Fashion and Textiles graduate Moreku’s range was launched as part of Pick ’n Pay Clothing’s second collaboration with young local designers in celebration of South Africa’s rich cultural landscape. “I am very happy to have been awarded such a rare opportunity to collaborate with Pick ’n Pay Clothing. I’m overwhelmed,” said the euphoric Moreku.
Commenting on his fashion success, DUT’s Fashion and Textiles Department staff said that they are so proud of him and his accomplishments, as he has always been a hard-working individual who is very dedicated to his craft.
DUT Creative Director, fashion designer Gideon, said that from his student days, Moreku had shown a strong design sense, unique fashion direction and more importantly, he knew the risks needed in creating both his designs and establishing the ethos of his brand.
“When asked to submit a student for this opportunity, he was the one I thought of first due to his strong work ethic. His brand being used under the Pick ’n Pay umbrella shows that he understands the difference between editorial and commercial fashion and how to execute both,” he said proudly.
Speaking more on his journey to Pick ’n Pay Clothing, Moreku said: “Gavin Rajah scouted me from university to
be a part of a collaboration between young designers and Pick ’n Pay, which he is heading,” he said.
Moreku stated that his collection is a commercial summer range with a focus more on heritage and ethics. He further said that he is enthused by the essence of what makes everyone common as a community. “It captures my perspective of a united South African heritage. I drew inspiration from all the South African cultures that I have been exposed to over the years,” he said.
“The collaboration concept has been very popular overseas and we are thrilled that local customers are as excited about it. Through this project, we can play a role in launching very talented designers to a much broader commercial audience, and give our customers access to local aspirational yet accessible and affordable clothing,” said Hazel Pillay, General Manager for Pick ’n Pay Clothing.
His inspiration is also largely drawn from the SePulana culture and he aims to keep designing and honing his flow of creativity as he still has many ides he wishes to explore.
Moreku was born in 1991 into a small rural community called Welverdiend in Bushbuckridge in the north-eastern part of South Africa. “I went to multiple schools and completed my primary school at Mahlekisana Primary School and finished my Grade 12 at Mahlale High School,” he said. Despite moving a lot between Gauteng and Mpumalanga, and being exposed to different cultures of South Africa, Moreku was predominately brought up within the SePulana culture in the Manyeleti district.
Cultural sustainability is what shaped Moreku’s general design aesthetic and ignited the yearning in him to create a brand that showcases the stories of the SePulana
culture and its people, and to help in the development of a sustainable South African fashion trade.
Moreku, who is the first fashion designer in his family, now follows his passion and continues being inspired by his SePulana culture. Part of the traditional wear of the SePulana culture combines leftover fabric and plastic material, which ties in easily with Moreku’s desire to practise sustainable fashion by upcycling different types of waste material.
“My dream was to always be successful at whatever I do. I realised that fashion was for me in my sophomore year; that was after I started entering competitions. My fashion-forward thinking is inspired by my natural desire to be different and have my own unfiltered ideas,” he remarked.
The SePulana culture, which has a SePedi language, makes use of bright and daring colours and has enthused Moreku’s desire to be unusual, think out of the box, create wearable art and be defiant to acts of conformity.
His academic fashion journey began with him registering for his National Diploma in Fashion and Textiles at DUT. In between his course of study, Moreku improved his academic fashion knowledge with ‘hands-on’ training, working as an intern for renowned South African brands such as Amanda Laird Cherry, Holmes Bros and Mr Price.
“My biggest challenge was making it through university; as much as it was fun being in the classroom, having to deal with the pressure that comes with being a student was quite a challenge at times. However, the Fashion Department
at DUT has provided me with the necessary opportunities to attain great fashion knowledge and skills,” he said.
In 2017, Moreku entered the Vodacom Durban July Student Competition and clinched first place. In 2018, he was an invited designer under the category of established designers at the Vodacom Durban July, showcasing his range under the category ‘The Timeless Collection’.
In the same year, he was also nominated to be among the top 10 finalists in the SA Fashion Week (SAFW) S/S 18 student competition and was also awarded the Best Menswear Award at the DUT S/S 18 fashion show for third-year students.
He went on to receive the Student Award at the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards 2019 and was also bestowed the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC’s Recognition Award for Eco-friendly Fashion.
After completing his National Diploma in Fashion and Textiles at DUT in 2019, the former alumnus has grown in leaps and bounds in the fashion arena.
“I’m always willing to assist others as much as I was assisted to get to where I am now in my fashion career, and I would even consider lecturing at DUT. Long term, my goal is to build an empire that changes the idea that there are no ‘big and successful designers’ from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga,” he said.
The Pick n Pay Clothing x Katekani range is available in 48 selected P ’n P Clothing stores while stocks last. The range is also available online at www.picknpayclothing.co.za.
