Samas burst into colour

MEMORABLE: BIGGEST STARS C0ME OUT TO SHINE AT SUN CITY AT ONE OF LEADING GATHERINGS ON SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL CALENDAR More than just fairy tales and whistles as SA celebs put some effort into their outfits.

The red carpet came alive with the stars strutting their stuff at the 23rd annual South African Music Awards (Samas) at Sun City last weekend. Considering these awards follow the Metros, it was rather easy for me to prepare myself for fashion crimes and offenders on the red carpet.

However, to my delight most previous offenders returned to the Samas carpet to confirm their places as fashion and style trendsetters.

One person I have to discuss is the beautiful and vocally gifted Sama winner Kelly Khumalo, who not only turned heads but kept eyes glued on her all night with her guava rose-petaled ball gown by young Pretoria-based designer Khothatso Laurence Tsotetsi of Tsotetsi KL.

Now, I could dig deep to fault this dress but that would be too much effort when the best thing about it was how it stood for everything under the fashion heavens.

What I liked the most was how she did not let the dress take over, yet she embodied every stitch and thread that kept it together. Meet the man behind Kelly’s jaw-dropping dress.

1. Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Khothatso Laurence Tsotetsi, a young fashion designer and owner of Tsotetsi KL, located in Pretoria.

I was born in Soweto and grew up in Gauteng, based in Pretoria. I started my fashion studies in 2009, directly after I completed high school, and during this time started my brand, Tsotetsi KL, which is in its fifth year.

After high school, I finished a B Tech in fashion, during which I interned with a few industry big shots.

I lectured in my field of practice simply to share what I had learnt. All this while showing collections every season for the past eight seasons on the MBFW platform in South Africa.

I also enjoyed a few international appearances in Paris and in Sweden.

2. When did you start designing?

I have been practising the craft from the age of 12. Since then, the need to do more has caught up with me.

I had a passion for what people wore since I was very young.

My family inspired me through their constant fascination with clothing, the way they dressed and the changes they made.

There was always a focus on my interests in exploring fabrics and clothes.

This continued until I turned my talent into business to further

my quest.

3. When and how did your relationship with Kelly Khumalo start?

The relationship with Kelly began in April 2013 when I was commissioned for the first time to dress the Sama performers in the album of the year medley, in which Kelly happened to be one of the performers closing the Samas off in song.

The commissioned looked was inspired by Cleopatra and she took to the look. When I asked her what she would like, she responded: “Please make me look beautiful.”

This spoke directly to what the vision for my brand was.

We never met again until the day of this year’s awards at which she saw the dress for the first time and fell in love with it.

4. What was your inspiration behind her Samas dress?

The dress was discussed after the Metro FM 2017 awards and since then we have been planning on something big for the awards, with an emphasis on what the Kelly Khumalo brand has been since inception.

Above all, the time came parallel to Tsotetsi KL celebrating its fifth year in the fashion industry.

This was to show the growth of the relationship and the brand itself as highlighted in the

quality and the magnitude of the dress.

Also, to express the importance of honouring something in dress like the awards and arriving in something special.

The aim is always to set the bar as high as possible and acknowledge receipt of what the artist was paid and what was delivered was value for money.

5. What motivates you as a creative person?

My motivation derives from attention to fit and silhouette, as well as individuals that understand the power of feeling that clothes possess ... individuals that exaggerate the feeling of looking good each time they put on an ensemble. I have a strong belief that the work you produce as an artist has to speak for itself. I let myself be guided by the aesthetics of the company, all the while relying on a mix of personal inspirations and fashion taste to create inspirations for my art.

Tsotetsi KL is a product of extensive experience in the fashion industry, seeking to add unique style to women’s lives with only the highest standards in place. Attention to detail and quality is very important.

The aim is always to set the bar as high as possible. Khothatso Laurence Tsotetsi Fashion designer and owner of Tsotetsi KL