Fashion Kapitol: the home of pan-African creativity & fashion

A hub for co-creation, fabric sourcing and African fashion, Fashion District has fashioned itself into a centre for pan-African creativity. The Kapitol is not only a hub for the fashion-conscious shoppers and tourist but is an aesthetically pleasing and colourful part of the inner-city specially earmarked for the development of the City’s fashion industry.

“We’re interested in creating a platform and building facilities for young designers to use,” said Lindani Mkhize, centre manager of Fashion Kapitol.

Bordered by the ever-busy Market, Kerk, Von Wielligh and End streets, Fashion District is made up of 26 blocks and oozes a sense of style and serenity. On a random day, shoppers can get custom designs made for them by any of the designer boutiques housed in the Fashion Kapitol – from high-end fashion to retail and off the shelf wear.

 “There is an expectation that the stuff here needs to be top-notch, as the district, we keep our standards high. If you want good quality stuff, this where you’re going to find it, and if you want African fashion, this the best place to come to,” Lindani said.

The Fashion Kapitol is a square that takes up most of a block in the heart of the district. The kapitol consists of 30 shops and boutiques, offices, studios, a restaurant, a small square, an outdoor ramp and an amphitheatre, and a walkway linking Pritchard and Market streets.

Zinhle Mangcu, the founder and designer of Zonke Ezinhle Apparel, said even though her brand was a year old it had gone through a roller coast ride. The designer left the corporate world to chase her passion for fashion and design.

“I decided it would be nice to work in the heart of Fashion District. This is where most people start, it’s a very good place to start from,” Zinhle said.

With fashion items spanning African wear, sophisticated custom designs and ready-to-wear clothing, Mbonisi Zikalala shies away from Fashion Kapitol’s common thread through his handmade leather goods and utility bags. The craftsman has a stall situated right in the centre of the Kapitol and said the centre’s pro-art and creation ethos drew him in from Roodepoort.

“There was a point when leather was scarce and I couldn’t get affordable leather products. I realized that raw leather was cheaper and that led me to do my own thing. I started making pieces for myself and people close to me started buying,” Mbonisi said.

In the spirit of co-creation and incubation, Dudu Matore provides a guiding light to young designers and upcoming brands. Using her extensive experience in factories and design studios, she helps young designers establish their brands by helping them create patterns and samples. The veteran pattern maker urged young designers to put in their 10 000 hours and acquire the necessary skills in order for their brands to get off the ground.

Designers to look out for:

Zonke Ezinhle Apparel

 Storey

 Chisomo Fashion

Lufi-D

BM Touch