I had to fight to stand out. It gets really bleak, but I had to pull myself out by reminding myself of Kgosi and my journey. For many centuries, fashion has been perceived as an art of expression through tailored cloth divided into two basic categories with many subcategories, namely haute couture and ready-to-wear, to name a few. Many people regard this form of expression as a lifestyle, a way of expressing our true selves, and it contributes inextricably to the socioeconomic structure of the fashion industry.
In this issue, we talk to a Northern Cape-born costume and fashion designer from Upington, Phetogo Gift
Kgosierieleng, the creative director at No Modern Slave by Kgosi a heritage and culture designer.
Who is Kgosi?
Kgosi is a Motswana boy, a mixed-race Khoi San from Upington with Kuruman ancestors. His father is a
Namibian. Kgosi now resides in Johannesburg as a costume, set, and fashion designer.
Tell us about your business in the fashion industry. What role do you play?
Kgosi owns the brand “No Modern Slave.” I think my language in the fashion industry is to preserve heritage and South African culture through fashion, costume, and set design.
Why do you name your designs in the manner you do?
No Modern Slave aspires to be a household brand with an interior, set, costume, and all encapsulated in an African language. So, No Modern Slave is the mother brand for these other little pieces that I’ve worked on, such as the Kgosi Kimono and the Kgosi dresses with pockets, which are inspired by African female regalia. And then there is set design.
Why create individual social media pages for them?
Holistically, as an artist, I do have different expressions. After taking up fashion design school, I became aware that I’m not necessarily a fashion designer, although I enjoy dressing and designing. I also
realized that there are so many other different things that I do. I have recently ventured into
set design and costume design. Hence the different expressions in languages or social media
platforms, but No Modern Slave remains the mother brand for all that I do.
What does this award mean to you?
I mean, a category such as “heritage and culture designer of the year” is not one that receives much attention in the fashion arena. Receiving a nomination and winning is somewhat of a validation
and affirmation of my work. It also grants me confidence as a designer. It is also how I get to preserve the Khoi San and Setswana cultures through fashion design.
Where do you draw inspiration from, and why?
I draw a lot of inspiration from my past experiences and also from my mother, who has always been my biggest inspiration. Heritage and culture have always been her priorities and languages of expression. That has been confirmed for me by this nomination.
What is art to you, and how does it define you as a person? For me, art is the highest form of self-expression; it is my voice. Kgosi is art; art is a gift. Art is not a coat that I put on only when I have to perform. I hardly even tell people that I am an artist. I am Art. It is in the way I live. It is in the way I express myself. It is in the spaces I choose to be in.
Tell us what inspired you to design the now-trending kimono?The Kgosi Kimono started as a design I did for my musician friend in Cape Town. We wore the same kimonos, and people loved them. I called it the Kgosi Kimono and continued designing more.
Msaki started wearing the kimono, and people started picking it up. To name a few, see Thandiswa azwai and Nduduzi Makhathini. International people got interested as well. A big shot in Los Angeles ordered
15 kimonos to start selling that side. I have dreams that it becomes a household brand in Africa.
What are you looking forward to in 2023? What can we expect from you?
I have plans to move out of Africa to further my studies and come back years later to give back to my country and community. Your experience before Project Runway and your experience after Between Cape Town and Kuruman, I can say I was spiritually prepared. I was confident in my own mess. I returned to the village after leaving Cape Town. I was prepared because I was living my truth. After Project Runway,
I relocated to Johannesburg, where I quickly became one of the industry’s most recognizable faces. The arena became different. I had to fight to stand out. It gets really bleak, but I had to pull myself out by
reminding myself of Kgosi and my journey.
My latest project is the village art expo. It is predominantly for the Northern Cape and collaborates with other artists to exhibit at a competition for artists.
Writer by Mogale Sedibe
This blog is from the Diamond magazine issue 1 to check the magazine click here
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