According to designer Thulare Monareng, her Thulare range is for "young, hip, fashion conscious people who want to retain their African identity, but
still be fashionable.
"I think my clothes offers those people the best of both African and
Western aesthetics."
Carl Collison chatted to the 34-year-old about her gorgeous range.
Tell us a bit about your background.
Well I was born in Johannesburg, lived in Swaziland till I was thirteen years
old and moved back to Jo’burg to attend high school here. I then went over
to the States on a student exchange program. There I finished high school
and later attended Xavier University where I completed a B.A. in Political
Science. Then off to Belgium to live for three and a half years where I did
a Masters in Public Admin and Management. After that it was back to the States
where I lived in New York for three years.
You seemed to have studied everything except fashion.
Yeah, I worked for a French fragrance company around ’96/ ’97, then I went
back to New York. There I studied Fashion Buying and Merchandising for a year.
I then came back and worked for Telkom (laughs) as a Marketing Manager. God,
that seems like ten lifetimes ago!
And then came fashion.
Yes. I was always interested in fashion, though. I moved down to Cape
Town and did the styling for Backstage…which was a good experience,
really. Although I knew my sole purpose is to design. Design has always been
my primary interest!
Any other television work?
Yeah, after Backstage I moved back up to Jo’burg and did the styling for Bassiq,
which was really cool…
So
how is Thulare different from other nu-school Afro-centric designers
in South Africa?
(Hesitates) Well, I don’t think it’s different necessarily. I think we all
really have the same mindset…I think my winter range will definitely
be different because of the fabrics I’m using. For example, I’m mixing hessian
with leather for this long coat, which is really beautiful. Also, a bit of
denim…
Tell us more about you choice in fabrics.
Well, it’s 100% South African! I’m really inspired by the diversity of cultures.
I use Swazi, Sotho, Venda, Xhosa even some Shangaan fabrics and prints…Indigenous
fabrics with a hip spin to it!
Who is the range for?
I’d say it’s for young, hip, fashion conscious people who want to retain their
African identity, but still be fashionable. I think my clothes offers those
people the best of both African and Western aesthetics."
Any chance of a men’s range soon?
Yes, definitely! A kiddies range as well! I really just want to concentrate
on the women’s range and really get it kicking, you know. I’d say there’ll
be a men’s range out in under a year.
Why did you choose The Space, in Rosebank to sell your clothes?
Well, speaking as a new designer, I think the Space offers the most creative
and eclectic mix of design talent in South Africa. This, I think, will allow
me to express myself fully as a designer. Also, I worked closely with The
Space for all my previous styling jobs, like Bassiq.
You were part of the Space fashion show recently. What was the response
to your range?
Oh, I had a very good response…It was fantastic!
 
Athough Thulare is not available via the web yet, the line can be found
at The Space in Rosebank, South Africa. Carl Collison is Photo Editor for Rage,
a magazine dedicated to South African Street Culture Online.
