DJ rocks city with fresh designer clothing label
DEEPHOUSE music in the Eastern Cape is getting its own line of designer clothing.
The music-inspired clothing brand, DeepLondon, has been created by 23-year-old Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University chemistry student Lita Kupelo, better known as club DJ “Le Vinnyl DeepLondon”.
“I have created my own label to express the love that the Eastern Cape has for deep house music,” Kupelo said.
Deephouse is a subgenre of house music that originated in the 1980s, initially fusing elements of Chicago house with 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music.
This style of house music can often have an acoustic feeling.
Kupelo’s T-shirts, caps, sweaters, hoodies, golf shirts and socks have attracted the support of a large clothing store in Vincent Park.
The start-up entrepreneurial venture has created five jobs.
This includes four promotional models – two women and two men – and a label representative in Mthatha.
“We sold about 2 000 caps around the festive season last year. Now that they are selling at Oasis Outfitters in Vincent, they are getting a lot of followership from a wide range of people.
“I am also negotiating with other retail stores around the province, mainly in shopping malls, to sell the brand,” Kupelo said.
The popular club DJ aims to release an album this year.
“At the end of April I will be dropping my single under the ‘DeepLondon clothing company’ and later this year I am planning to drop a full house album that will represent DeepLondon and the Eastern Cape,” he said.
He said the idea for the brand came when he saw a gap in the market.
“I started selling these items in 2014 in and around night clubs in East London where I was booked to perform as a DJ,” he said.
Kupelo said he would continue carving a place in the fashion world while chasing his chemistry degree.
He chooses the fabrics for his creations himself and is particular about the styles.
Although he was young, Kupelo said it paid to have goals.
Oasis Outfitters store manager Jay Dhaya confirmed they were selling Kupelo’s merchandise.
“We have his caps that he brought here in February and the quality is good. We are always keen to support and showcase the work of local emerging manufactures,” Dhaya said.
He said designers should upgrade their brands every three months to keep them interesting. —