By: Elizabeth Kunene

Laduma Ngxokolo is one young talent to look out for this year in the fashion industry.

Born in Port Elizabeth, Ngxokolo had his first experience in textile designing in 2003. Ngxokolo’s flair for knitwear design began at home with his mother and earned him a bursary from both Port Elizabeth-based Cape Wools South Africa and Mohair South Africa during his Btech studies at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2010.

That same year, Ngxokolo won the national leg of the South African Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) Design Competition, which earned him a trip to London where he was awarded first prize internationally for the competition. His competition entry consisted of men’s knitwear that is inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork.

“My life is still slightly empty because I don’t own anything in his collection or line. I’ve found out where his shop is so now it’s just me getting there” said Ellen,  a blogger from Underblaunction.

Fashion is a universal language understood all over the world- it doesn’t have to be interpreted by words but can be interpreted through clothing.

“I’ve always had an issue with South African brands that place themselves as heritage brands because they often not relatable to a wide market,” said Ngxokolo.

His Xhosa traditional wear was one of the best designed garments of Fashion Week 2014. As Best Upcoming Designer of the year, this young man still has a long way to go to stitch his name on every fashion blogger’s page.