ORAPELENG MODUTLE, STYLE AVENUE

Orapeleng seems exhausted as he hurriedly chats to FAIRLADY while prepping for Miss SA – he was one of eight designers selected to dress the 16 finalists.

His maximalist style (think sequins, feather trims and crystal embellishments) has caught the attention of many a celeb looking for a couture gown. ‘I interned at Stoned Cherrie, where I was exposed to a few celebrities,’ he explains. ‘A couple of years later I met former Miss SA Bokang Montjane, and I started dressing Bonang and Nomzamo.’

Bridalwear was what first drew him to the fashion industry. ‘Growing up in Kimberley,

I’d always see weddings in the community, but what the bride was wearing was always the most important thing for me,’ he laughs.

The 31-year-old started his business in 2013, but his rise to fame had its challenges. ‘I had no start-up capital and no one knew about the brand,’ he says. ‘Luckily, good quality and excellent customer service were my secret weapons.’

It paid off. In 2018 he was on the cover of Forbes Africa as one of their 30 Under 30 Young Creatives. Orapeleng also made waves on social media when he was snapped with Vogue International editor Suzy Menkes in Cape Town this year. ‘She was really impressed,’ he says.

Orapeleng says the LGBTQI+ community has encouraged a more gender-fluid approach to fashion: ‘That is why I decided to design a unisex collection. Your gender or sexuality shouldn’t dictate how you present yourself to the world.’