Ayanda Nhlapo turns the spotlight on SA’s flourishing fashion industry with Ayanda’s Fashion House.
AT 24, Ayanda Nhlapo is making her mark in both the TV and the fashion industries. And it just so happens that these passions dovetail in her new show, Ayanda’s Fashion House.
Born in Springs, Nhlapo studied dramatic arts at Joburg’s National School of the Arts. Later, she studied film at Boston Media House before taking a gap year after year one.
She says: “That’s when I discovered my love for fashion. I started selling vintage clothing before turning to customising them. This led me down the path to designing. And I entered a show called Young Designers (season 3) and won.”
This led to her enrolling with the Design School of South Africa.
Stylish, drop-dead gorgeous and talented, it’s no surprise that the camera is loving her, too.
On her foray into TV – her reality show experience notwithstanding – she says: “My journey has been with (the channel) [ED]. I was a presenter for a show called Corner Talks. Thereafter, I hosted a show called Career Mapping. But neither of these shows were the right platform for me to express who I am. So we came up with Ayanda’s Fashion House, which represents who I am and the world I come from – fashion.”
Shedding light on what viewers can expect from the show, she says: “It provides insight on the different facets within the fashion industry. I chat to people like Eugenie Drakes (CEO and founder of Piece), Lucille Booysen (fashion show producer), Stephen Manzini (founder and MD of Soweto Fashion Week), Felipe Mazibuko (stylist to the fashion rebels). I see a different you and so many more relevant people.”
As for her personal style, Nhlapo shares: “It is timeless and eclectic. I design what I would wear, so that’s the direct link between my style and designs. Fashion trends are ever- evolving indeed and I’m here to set them, not follow them.”
As for how receptive the industry is to fresh blood, she offers: “The South African fashion industry is expanding. I feel that designers and fashionistas are very liberal at this point and so is the fashion scene as a whole. It has reached a greater level of expression and diversity. As a career, it is obviously not all glitz and glam. It’s a very competitive industry, which requires passion, talent, hard work and consistency. It has certainly become a bit more welcoming though, especially to young black designers.”
On the designers she admires, Nhlapo admits: “I admire so many designers’ work: young, old, local and international. I like designers who conceptualise and tell a story through their designs. Designers who always deliver very high quality pieces and are not afraid of experimenting. For example, Alexander Wang.”
Now the fashion industry has long-enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the entertainment industry: the stars promote the designer by wearing their clothes.
She adds: “I love that they have this relationship. Fashion requires certain mediums within the media in order for it to be further exposed to the world. Both industries feed each other. For me, any medium that helps me expand, is a blessing. I’ve already had the honour of dressing some of my industry friends. I could see myself dressing someone like Janelle Monae (American singer and actress). Her style connects with mine.”
Now that she has her heels into it, she says: “Two episodes in, it’s doing well.”
Ayanda’s Fashion House airs on [ED] and GOtv (DStv channels 190 and 65, respectively) on Mondays at 6.55pm.
Debashine Thangevelo