He takes life as it comes and the word ‘spontaneous’ probably sums him up best. But who is Themba Mngomezulu?

‘I come from humble beginnings. Many people don’t know my history, including the people I work with, but I was living on my own when I was nine years old up until the age of fourteen years. I never had my mother around. It’s a sad story,’ he pauses. ‘I last saw my mom when I was still a toddler. But I managed to meet her eleven years later at the age of fifteen.’

Luckily, the sad story has a happy ending. Today Themba is well known in the fashion industry. His mother is partly the inspiration for his passion. She was trading second-hand clothing when they met and Themba consequently developed a taste for labels at a young age.

Now, years later, the 31-year-old and his team are getting ready for the Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. At his design quarters in Woodstock, railings of clothing and pattern sheets occupy the office in volumes, and the never-ending shriek of the phone tells the story of Themba’s hectic schedule one week before the big show.

‘A range only gets planned two weeks before a show,’ he says. ‘Then it’s time to cut and stitch the garments.  My staff works hard because when I have an idea, I push and we have to finish it so I can see the end result.’

His determination for success often comes in the way of seeing his loved ones. ‘I spend so little time with my eight-year-old daughter Noah, my sixteen-month-old baby Leon and my girlfriend. But this will change. I hope to spend more time with them once I have achieved the success I want.’

‘At the moment I’m not complaining about my hectic schedule. I love my job. I left my B.Com studies to become a designer. I can’t imagine wearing a white shirt and a tie everyday of my life,’ he says, ‘but it’s unfortunate that designers aren’t taken seriously in our country. For instance, banks put us in a high risk category, so it’s hard to get financial backing. Some people expect us to do a quick show without realising the effort that goes into planning, designing and producing a collection. Many people see us as entertainers. Only when people realise how important designers are in society, we can have a chance to succeed. So I’ve got to keep giving people what they love so they buy into designs. And that’s what I do best.’

darkie.co.za

Words: Melissa Phera

Photography: Dylan Culhane

Originally published in one small seed issue 12

one small seed Issue 12 – Part 2

ISSUE 12 FEATURES:

• PHOTOGRAPHER: LYLE OWERKO – THE SAMBURU
• WORLDWIDE MUSIC FESTIVALS – THE FEST OF THE FEST
• PEOPLE: SOUTH AFRICAN COMEDIANS
• ARCHITECTURE: A LANDMARK IN INNER-CITY LIVING
• DESIGN: TINKER HATFIELD & THE NIKE AIRMAX 90 STORY
• ART: BIGWOOD 2 EXHIBITION
• SWIMWEAR: A SPLASH OF SURREALISM
• MENSWEAR: LEMON AID BY BRETT RUBIN
• LINGERIE: SECRET SERVICE
• STREETWEAR: URBAN 101
• ARTIST: RAY CEASAR
• PHOTOGRAPHER: LIAM LYNCH
• MUSICIAN: KEEPING IT REAL POISENOUS WITH RATTEX
• FASHION DESIGNER: THEMBA MNGOMEZULU
• ARTIST: POP ICONOGRAPHY WITH ALEX HAMILTON
• UNDERGROUND TECHNO PUNK: SHEEP ON DRUGS
• INDIE ROCK: ASHTRAY ELECTRIC
• SAN FRANCISCO FUSION: RUPA AND THE APRIL FISHES
• CANADIAN LUMBERJACK SWING: NATIONAL PARCS
• AFRIKAANS ALTERNATIVE: FOTO NA DANS
• POWER POP: CRASHCARBURN
• MUSIC PORTRAITS: TAXI VIOLENCE