Laduma Ngxokolo recently won the Emerging Designer of the Year accolade at this year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa. He is undoubtedly one of SA's most innovative and creative designers. We had a short chat with him:
1. When did you first discover your love for design, fashion and textiles?
It started when my late mother bought an old domestic knitting machine. I was in grade 8 and after helping my mother to knit on the machine a couple of times, I decided to design my first jersey with her help.
I then decided to study textile design as a subject in high school and continued studying a textile design BTech course, which also included fashion design studies.
2. What are your favourite types of textiles and colours to work with?
It goes without saying that knitted wool, mohair and cashmere are my textiles.
They are all protein figure and very flexible to knit. I work mainly with colours like yellow, light blue and beige, because they add a special feature onto my designs.
3. What type of woman normally wears your brand?
My designs caters to all types of women who love bold and beautiful premium quality fashion.
4. What is a typical day like for you at work?
I do not have the "traditional office”, so anywhere I find inspiration and have a laptop can be an office for me. I get to experience different kinds of moods every week.
5. What inspires your design on a daily basis?
Colour and pattern are a major inspiration for my design work, I also look at international trends.
6. You were recently honoured at Africa Fashion Week for your design, what is next for you? Any exciting ventures you can tell us about?
I have decided to study a MA course in Material Futures at Central Saint Martins in London. That to me is a creativity driving force that will change and add a dimension to the way I design and give me an opportunity to diversify in other disciplines.
All images by Simon Deiner / SDR Photo/