South African Designer chosen for French Fashion Competition

Thokozani Freedom Mbatha known as TK owns the South African menswear fashion label BLACK PEPPER will be the only South African representative at the Culturesfrance competition "Africa is in fashion!"

Thokozani who hails from KwaZulu-Natal said he is extremely honored to represent his country where he will have the opportunity to showcase both his designs and label and demonstrate the creative talent South Africa has when it comes to fashion design.

Thokozani says he is "both an artist and businessman” who realizes that fashion is as much about business skills as it is about creative talent. He says, “I came across this great opportunity by chance when a friend informed me of the competition. I looked at the entry requirements whilst pondering whether I should spend time, energy and some resources into meeting the requirements for this competition. I then decided that this would be a fantastic opportunity not only for me and my label but for South Africa, and Africa as a whole. The requirements to enter did not only consist of a storyboard. I had to meet and complete volumes of paper work such as security clearance and other tedious documentations.”

Thokozani then submitted his storyboard and the documents in April and forgot about the event. On the 6th of July while he was still rejoicing about his success in the July fashion event (he was one of the finalist at the Fashion Challenge) he was looking over the Culturesfrance website and was surprised to find his name as one of the 10 finalist chosen from Africa and the only South African designer. In due course he was officially informed by the organizers.

He will be flying to North West Africa where all the 10 entrants chosen will undergo the elimination round at a fashion show. From the 10 entrants the top three as part of this development initiative undertaken by France will receive a two month internship in Paris at one of the famous global fashion houses. The goal and objectives is for these young designers to bring back to their respective country the skills and network opportunities to develop their own range and business and to give input into the local fashion industry by dissemination of the skills they learnt.

In describing his collection Thokozani says, “As for my designs I did menswear. The theme of the competition is Transition and I interpreted this in my own approach and philosophy where the past, present and future flow and blend in one direction with each city having its own character that is ancient and modern.”

“This combination brings a new dimension and increases and broadens the horizon and prospective of each culture and one’s own interpretation of culture" said TK. "My label BLACK PEPPER …moves with confidence in its own traditional ethos and is flexible to blend with cultural changes and behaviors’ taking place throughout global cities thereby creating its own identity within an ever transforming space …” He says “My designs will transform the wearer into a universal individual who will blend into the global changes and transitions taking place not only in fashion but in culture, economics and politics ….”

Thokozani says he is designing ten items that reflect urban chic and the fabric/palette consists of natural colours which are influenced by his African culture.

BLACK PEPPER is a well known label based in KwaZulu-Natal. TK has participated in numerous fashion events. . TK says that education is extremely important and last year he took time off from his business to travel to Italy where he studied at the NUOVA ACCADEMIA DE BELLE ARTI MILANO where he undertook an intensive course in fashion marketing and merchandising that gave him an insight into international trends and developments. “I am in the fashion business to make beautiful but sellable clothing and to have a successful business I am both a creative artist and business person.”

TK is an example of someone who has a set goal and objectives and works hard. He knows that he needs to have a solid understanding of all the various aspects that contributes to a successful fashion business. It is a credit to him that in these tough economic times his label and reputation is growing both locally and now internationally. Written by Renato Palmi

FULL NAME: THOKOZANI FREEDOM MBATHA
LABEL: BLACK PEPPER
CONTACT NUMBER: 031-3320924 (OFFICE) CELL: 0799939722
EMAIL: mbathathokozani@yahoo.com

Africa is in fashion! 3rd edition of the competition for young African fashion designers. Initiated by Culturesfrance, the competition "Africa is in fashion!" enables 10 young African fashion designers, selected from applications presented to a jury of professionals, to present 10 items of prêt-à-porter or haute couture each. After the fashion show, this year on the theme of “transition”, three prize-winners will be chosen and they will receive prizes in the form of residencies in a fashion house, a prize of aid to creation and/or aid with the production of a collection, as well as support in the international distribution of their work. Once again, in association with FIMA, Culturesfrance reaffirms its support for the development of design and fashion industries.

The selection committee* appointed to choose the 10 candidates invited to compete in the special evening event “L’Afrique est à la mode !” (Africa is in fashion), which will take place in Niamey in the framework of FIMA (International Festival of African Fashion: October 25th – Novembers 1st, 2009), met on June 24th. Chosen from around sixty quality candidates from 25 African countries, 10 young fashion designers will present 10 costumes during the evening event.

The selected fashion designers are:
BARKA Salah – Tunisie
MAGNE CHOUPA Joëlle – Cameroun
CLAASEN Chakirra Mathilda – Namibie
DIOP Mariam – Sénégal
HARIRA Hamidou Seydou, dite Harira – Niger
ISILDA DA CONCEICAO GIBOTE Mbaga, dite Isis Mbaga – Mozambique
MBATHA Thokozani Freedom, dit Black Pepper – Afrique du sud
MBATSOGO Charlotte – Cameroun
RACHAEL MUTINDI Maithya, dite KI2 Fashion – Kenya
SSENKAABA Samson, dit Xenson - Ouganda