In our 20th birthday issue, currently on shelf, ELLE’s Fashion Director Tarryn Oppel looked to the local designers who showcased their ranges earlier this year at South African Menswear Week (SAMW16), resulting in a sizzling fashion editorial, Twinning, that smashes gender boundaries and shows how to wear the best of menswear whether you’re a boy or a girl. We caught up with some of the designers that Tarryn featured on the shoot. First up, Rich Mnisi
SDR Photo
Rich Mnisi
How would you describe your brand?
The brand is young at heart. It explores the treasures engraved within Africa and the world of modern culture and heritage, to tell the unique stories of then, now and soon. All this is packaged in extremist yet minimalist structures, which reflect my keen interest in the world of pop culture and home. The brand maintains a contemporary outlook and stands firm in an aesthetic that bring a world of artistic imagination together. It breeds new layers and visions inspired by sources outside of the realm of fashion, including film, music, family, art and nature; immersed but measured, picking up only the fitting notes to gather as foundation.
Please take us through the thinking behind your AW16 menswear collection?
The collection is inspired by one of the most celebrated and notable tribes in South Africa, the Zulu tribe. Known for their strong aesthetic, the Zulu tribe is also ornate in their traditional apparel, with a governing approach to colour, proportion and texture. iBeshu informs the direction of the collection, in the wavy shapes it creates, the hairy texture and it’s not so obvious masculinity. For the AW16 Menswear Collection we also wanted to explore the confident man.
SDR Photo
What menswear/womenswear trends are you excited about right now?
Right now I’m into ultra-femininity, which you’ll see in my lookbook coming in a few weeks.
What are some of the challenges of being a South African designer, and how do you overcome them in your work
I think the most notable and recent challenge would be the sense of stasis in the industry. Because of the ‘cliqueness’ within the South African industry, there’s an unsettling tunnel vision, and it seems as if the industry was designed to serve a ‘self’, rather than growing. There is however a consciousness among young creatives and a constant conversation on how to empower change. We’ve gone past the need for self-glory and are seeking a celebration unique to Africa.
What have been some of the highlights of your career so far?
Being picked as a global graduate to speak at the Design Indaba Conference earlier this year. I was very nervous to speak to such a huge crowd but it meant so much to me to share the stage with such great speakers that have influenced my aesthetic and played such a huge role in my being in the design industry. That experience will forever leave me humbled.
We have seen designers work and then disappear after a while, what are you doing to ensure longevity for your brand?
I’m trying to create a brand with great products. A designer can come and go as they please but a great brand can hold its own even in the harshest conditions.
Do you have any advice for young designers hoping to get themselves out there?
Listen and act; listening being the most important.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m working on a very exciting collaboration for South African Menswear Week. I’m really in love with the concept of collaboration; it makes for depth and genuinely fresh ideas.
Where can our readers shop your range?
They can shop directly by emailing us at info@richmnisi.com
Only 5 days left to get your copy of our #ELLE20 birthday issue, on shlef now!
The post #ELLE20 MEET THE DESIGNERS: RICH MNISI appeared first on Elle South Africa.