Image courtesy of SDRPhoto / Simon Diener
RENASCENCE N°0
Just how far-reaching is the dream or vision for MaXhosa Knitwear? Although the footprint of the brand is knitwear there is quite a number of products that I am aiming to branch into. My vision is to sustain the brand for the next decades to come so that it serves as a reminder for the next generation of where we come from as a people. At the same time, I also want the brand to be relevant to the social development of the community it has emerged from. At least the brand has a recognizable handwriting of its own now. The jet setter that you are, in 2011, you along with Stiaan Louw, showcased your designs at London Fashion Week. Can we expect a similar showcase on our shores any time soon? Yes sure, either late this year or early next year. What is your opinion on menswear in South Africa? Most of it is filtered from a range of styles that comes from overseas mainstream fashion. However I do think there is huge potential to grow indigenous distinctive styles locally. There are a few designers in SA that you
can tell that they design from a blank page. Do you see potential for a knitwear market to emerge? The overseas market already has a big luxe knitwear market, we haven’t got a significant one yet locally, so I think there is still potential to grow one in South Africa. Is there opportunity/potential to develop talent to cater to the industry of menswear from youth in the less urbanised provinces such as Eastern Cape and maybe Mpumalanga, for example? Yes there is, I think that there is a potential of getting deep-rooted distinctive craftsmen and designers. We’ve seen that from musicians that come from the Eastern Cape. What kind of influence do you see MaXhosa Knitwear having on menswear in South Africa? I envision MaXhosa Knitwear as a footprint that will set a clothing range that will dress South African men from head to toe. I would like my work to be appreciated for its aesthetics, quality patronage rather than have consumers who feel obligated to wear [my designs] because 40