Making a bold statement with accessories
PFENDE’S PIECES ADD JOY AND FUN
IT’S no secret that the African accessories market is booming and we have seen a variety of unique pieces that can enhance an otherwise dull outfit. With this in mind, it can be quite difficult to find African-inspired accessories that really stand out, yet Karen Pfende’s neckpieces will make you sit up and take notice.
Pfende, a Zimbabwean native who has a showroom in Randburg, Johannesburg, boasts a unique range of neckpieces and handbags that have given buttons a whole new life under her label, Afrikaren Designs.
Pfende uses buttons covered in bright African print materials to decorate her pieces. It is done in such a unique way that one almost forgets that they are looking at mere buttons that we see daily, and instead see beautiful art pieces.
This level of skill is not something that we see every day.
We caught up with Pfende to find out how she came up with this totally unique concept.
‘’I am an ordinary Zimbabwean-born mother-of-two and wife who loves fashion and believes in letting a piece do the talking,” she says.
“I am inspired by the rich colours of African fabrics when designing, which mostly came with having lived in five different countries.
“Ï lived in West Africa for a few years and what struck me the most was how the women there took great pride in African prints.
“I had always had a keen interest in fashion prior to that but had not really found a way to express myself.
“Finding an outlet through African print was the catalyst that made me more serious about my fashion work five years ago,” she says.
The self-taught Pfende says it was not easy and it took her a while to finally master the skill.
“It was very difficult to firstly learn the craft and then to establish a business out of that craft. It took me about two years to hone my skill and to establish me as an individual.”
So how does she describe the type of woman who wears her accessories?
She says that “bold” is one of the words that come to mind for her.
“I make accessories that are meant to complement most women’s outfits. This can be a professional woman or someone going out to a formal event. “My pieces add a certain ‘je ne sais
quoi’ element to the outfit, while embracing our African heritage.
“My pieces will certainly brighten up your day and complete your outfit, all the while making a bold statement.
“They are all about brightness, bursts of colour, joy and fun, that is found in our continent,” she says proudly.
Pfende’s current range includes neckpieces, belts, clutch bags and head wraps.
She sources her fabrics from all across the African continent.
She also has a small range for the bold men out there. This comprises hats, ties, and scarfs.
For such an intricate skill, one would expect Pfende’s accessories to be very pricey, but she says her pieces start from R250.
“Our smallest piece would have about 25 to 30 buttons on it, which would cost R250,” Pfende says.
“We have our masterpiece, which has about 280 to 300 buttons. That would cost R1 500.”
Pfende says her biggest highlight so far was participating in the Soweto Fashion Week earlier this year, as well as showcasing her designs at the Music Comedy show on the runway.
Pfende was one of the thirty young up-andcoming designers who took part in the Joburg Shopping Festival’s Love Local Design (LLD's) pop-up at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre last month. She is also one of the hand-picked group of designers who will be returning to the centre for another LLD showcase from 24 November 2016 to January 2017.
“I was blown away by how well my pieces were received.
“It is so humbling when my creations and passion stirs a positive response from people.
“I am still an infant in the fashion industry but the encouragement from other designers has been mind-blowing. I am totally humbled,” she says.
Pfende’s future plans are to create an African-themed line for professional women.
“This will encompass day-to-day professional wear with a slash of African heritage, all the while maintaining that Afrikaren ethos, which means that each piece will be lovingly and uniquely made,” she says.