The director and the founder of Maqithini Fashion Designs from KwaMhlanga location in Cacadu (formerly known as Lady Frere), Siyabonga Mpanjukelwa, will be showing his work at New York Fashion Week this year.
Mpanjukelwa specialises in sewing his clothes using Ixakatho or ityali (a small blanket that is used by wives as a symbol of marriage and to show respect).
He said he was supposed to go to China last year, after he obtained first position in the Inkcubeko Yethu Fashion Show, which was organised by the Chris Hani District Municipality, but his journey was withdrawn due to COVID-19.
“It was my first time competing against other fashion designers; I did not know that I would win and I was nervous.
“I could not believe my ears when my name was announced by judges that I had obtained first position,” he said. He added that this had opened doors for him as he would now be travelling to New York to compete with other fashion designers from other countries.
He confirmed that he had chosen to use this concept of Ixakatho with the aim of blowing a whistle to young people to show respect.
“I have realised that some of us have lost respect because we forget about our background. Respect is one of the keys that are always needed more especially when you are living with other people.”
Besides being a fashion designer, he is also willing to start a modelling agency, where he would be assisting young people.
