Minimalism makes its mark in a fresh way

AT ONLY 20 years old, Thabo Kopele of the Vaal triangle, south of Joburg turned his tribulations into success. The self-made designer, who learnt sewing in 2015 while in Grade 11, is making a name for himself. He has moved barriers and exposed himself to opportunities where he is given a platform to master his craft.

“I studied fashion design at the London International School of Fashion (Lisof) in Randburg last year, but my parents were unable to continue paying for my tuition fees and I was forced to drop out.

“That didn’t really have much of a negative impact on me, instead, it motivated me to work harder and made me even more passionate about what I do.

“Andrew Carnegie’s law immediately came into effect because I began to be surrounded by like-minded people.

“I also worked at the inaugural Mercedes-benz Fashion Week Xperience 2017 as a photographer and that helped me network with all the people I have looked up to since high school.

“The three-day event played quite a big role in my journey because it made me believe in more, and in working harder to achieve my goals,” says Kopele.

To him, fashion is much more than just clothing and looking good. It’s about telling a tangible story that will last for generations to come, and that was later proven to him at college where he was taught how to conceptualise and interpret narratives from the past and analyse trends.

“Growing up I wasn’t always able to express myself the way I wanted to and fashion was my way of setting statements without saying a single word. I also believe that I was able to bring more of my personality forth through clothing, but above all I’m a huge art fanatic,” says Kopele.

At the beginning of this year, Kopele started his own label and named it after himself. He made a spring/summer range called The Duxberry which didn’t sell at all.

However, that didn’t kill his vibe. Instead, he came back with a bang and released a menswear pre-fall (autumn) range inspired by sheer will and the desire to be clean, stylish and a contemporary minimalist.