POLOKWANE – The founder of The Evergreen Couture, a fashion designer and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Mpho Ramaoka from Seshego Zone 1 worked behind the scenes of an international movie called ‘The Professional’ in the wardrobe department as an intern in 2018.
“Through the internship I learned a lot. It didn’t feel like an internship because everything was done at a professional level. I’m honoured to have been a part of it because I can bring those skills back home.”
Ramaoka is a qualified fashion designer who studied at the South West Gauteng TVET College in Soweto. “I fell in love with fashion design when I was at Moruleng Secondary School.
“We used to wear long pants, so the fashion designer in me cut the school pants and turned them into shorts. It was obviously not allowed, and when I was in Gr 12 I attempted to create my own matric uniform but school rules will always remain school rules.
“When I finished matric I then started doing runway modelling for shows in Polokwane. I then moved to Johannesburg to work as a runway model and freelancer and background actor, and further my studies. Locally I’ve worked with production companies including Quizzical Pictures, Black Brain, Saint Moon Production, Red Pepper Production, Moja Love and Nagvlug Films in the wardrobe department,” Ramaoka said.
Her recent big fashion gigs were at the Limpopo Fashion Show, Global Environment Week, Soweto Fashion Week, and SweetPhops Lifestyle Fashion Week last year where she showcased her brand. When Ramaoka is not designing clothes, she’s at the netball courts in Seshego practicing and playing within Young Frights Netball Association.
