Akhona making waves with her own fashion label
KOMANI-born Akhona Carol Lali, also known as Miss Acalaca, is making her mark in the entertainment industry.
Lali, 24, from Ezibeleni in Komani registered the company Acalaca, an acronym from her name Akhona Carol Lali Carpede as well as her fashion label in 2012.
“I really loved the idea of building my own empire, being self-employed and creating opportunities for young creatives.
“In 2015 I founded Honour your Crown, which is a brand or movement that deals with issues regarding ethnic hair and skin and how we’ve come to define Afrocentric beauty,” she said.
Lali, now based in Johannesburg, said it opened her up as a global influencer.
“I was raised by my grandparents; they instilled a lot of African values in me which have kept me grounded. My aunt always stressed the importance of education. I grew up as the shy child along with my two sisters,” she said.
She said her love for fashion started at a young age and got her into trouble with her granny when she cut up her curtains to make clothes for her dolls.
“In primary school I started sketching designs. I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career in fashion, and after matric I went to study fashion design, fashion buying and merchandising management and graphic design,” she said.
She said her family wanted her to study law but she followed her passion.
“University definitely changed the way I viewed fashion design. My lecturer, Archie Monyepao from Walter Sisulu University inspired my entrepreneurial ventures,” said Lali.
She said when she moved to Johannesburg she wanted to focus on her fashion styling portfolio so her ambition has always been to be behind the camera.
“I ended up in front of the camera. Last year I got signed by a modelling agency, with my first gig being to lead for a DStv advert, where I shot with celebrities Somizi Mhlongo, Babes Wodumo, Thembi Nyandeni, Papa Penny, Thembisa Mdoda, Zola Nombona, just to name a few,” she said.
She said she also featured in Stimorol and Game store TV commercials which are currently running.
“Another big one is still to flight in June and I also featured in three big national magazines. Between doing shoots, working as a fashion stylist, creative director and running my company, I am expanding my business,” she said.
She said she is building a photography studio, working on a book and a web show.
“Next year I’m hoping to honour an invite to the Paris Fashion Week. I couldn’t attend this year’s Parish Fashion Week because it was happening around the same time as my Honour Your Crown meet and greet event,” she said. —