Dressing initiates to reflect culture
SA designer showcases his colourful solutions for young Xhosa initiates
When Port Elizabeth-born internationally renowned knitwear designer Laduma decided to explore his unique cultural designs, looking for alternative solutions for
amakrwala (Xhosa initiates) traditional dress, little did he know that it would change his life for good.
Ngxokolo, 30, whose award-winning designs feature on international fashion ramps including the Milan Fashion Week, was on Thursday night bestowed with a special recognition award by the office of the MEC of economic development & tourism at the annual Lilizela Tourism Awards in East London.
At the red carpet ceremony held at Hemingways, East London businesses won big, with the East London ICC coming tops in the best conferencing venue category, Mthombo’s Place in Mdantsane scooping the best cultural and lifestyle award, and local tour guide Siseko Yelani taking the best cultural guide award. Imonti Tours won in the tour operators category.
On top of Ngxokolo’s accolade, he was en trusted with a R 300,000 cheque to identify three talented, up and coming designers to train.
In his citation, MEC Oscar Mabuyane described Ngxokolo as “an agent of change, shifting and evolving with the changing times and further engaging in dialogue that pushes Xhosa culture to the future”.
Laduma Ngxokolo is one of Africa’s finest knitwear designer and innovator of the Xhosa-inspired knitwear brand Maxhosa by Lad- uma.
Ngxokolo established the brand in 2011 with a desire to explore knitwear design solutions that would be suitable for amakrwala (Xhosa initiates) traditional dress. Ngxokolo, who went through the ritual in 2007, said he felt that he needed to develop a premium knitwear range that celebrates traditional Xhosa beadwork aesthetics, using South African mohair and wool.
“This was my idea to celebrate AmaXhosa by including our patterns, and also to clothe our new initiates with the right colours that belong to us as Xhosa. All the clothes won by amakrwala are made in China and I wanted to change that.”
His breathtaking colourful work grabbed the attention of fashion lovers not only in South Africa but also in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Oslo, Berlin and New York.
Ngxokolo recently won the 2015 Vogue Italia Scouting for Africa prize to showcase his collections at the Palazzo Morando Show in Milan, Italy.
Furthermore, Ngxokolo was awarded the 2014 WeTransfer Scholarship to study masters in Material Futures at the Central St. Martins and graduated in 2016.
Some of the international awards won by Ngxokolo include:
● 2015 Yoox.com Who is Next Dubai Award
● 2016 Design Indaba Most Beautiful Object in South Africa Award
● 2016 Emerging Designer: Eastern Cape Entertainment Stars Awards
● 2016 Most Stylish Designer: SA Style Awards
● 2016 Fashion Designer of the Year Southern Africa: ABRYANZ Style and Fashion Awards
● 2017 Pride of Africa: Africa Fashion Week Barcelona Awards