Quiteria Kekana and his former business partner, George Malelu designed a dress for Beyoncé in 2018. Image via Twitter @APHILE_CARTER
Beyoncé, love life and more: 5 things to know about Quiteria Kekana
In 2018, Quiteria Kekana designed a dress for Beyoncé’s Global Citizen performance in Johannesburg. Here are five things to know about him.
Quiteria Kekana and his former business partner, George Malelu designed a dress for Beyoncé in 2018. Image via Twitter @APHILE_CARTER
Lebohang “Quiteria” Kekana passed away on Sunday 17 April after a short battle with cancer. Kekana was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in July 2021 and started his chemotherapy journey.
Kekana has designed dresses for Mzansi’s A-list celebrities and even had his work showcased at New York Fashion Week. Here are five things to know about the talented fashion designer.
ALSO READ: RIP: Local fashion designer Quiteria Kekana dies after short cancer battle
1. KICKSTARTING HIS FASHION CAREER
Quiteria Kekana was born in Katlehong, Ekhuruleni in 1984. Speaking to TrueLove in 2020, Kekana said he chose fashion as a career because he was influenced by the women in his life while growing up.
“Additionally, everything around me at the time influenced my decision – from watching the fashion in popular soapie, The Bold and the Beautiful. I’ve always loved and been inspired.”
2. DESIGNING A DRESS FOR BEYONCÉ
In 2018 Quiteria Kekana, along with his former business partner George Malelu, designed a dress for Grammy award-winning singer Beyoncé for her Global Citizen performance. The Sorry hitmaker shared the stage with Cassper Nyovest, Ed Sheeran and Sho Madjozi.
On designing Beyoncé’s 45-piece dress, Kekana said the opportunity opened doors for him. The 38-year-old cited it as the best moment of his career.
“This dress was designed with the purpose to showcase our capabilities and is reflective of all the positive changes taking place,” Kekana told IOL in 2018.
3. QUITERIA’S NEW YORK FASHION WEEK DEBUT
While working under Quiteria & George, Kekana and Malelu, took their Rise of the Phoenix collection to Paris, France. In 2020, Kekana had a solo show in Paris and took his fashion to New York Fashion Week.
“It’s incredible and the mandate is to flourish as a black child,” he told IOL in 2020.
ALSO READ: Lesego Tlhabi slates Quiteria: ‘He called me a fatty boom boom’
4. FINDING LOVE WHILE BATTLING CANCER
Kekana found love while he was battling cancer. According to Sunday World, the fashion designer met actor Behim “Mr Juice” Xoli in 2016 and they reunited again in 2021.
“Behim was very genuine because he came to me at a time when I was physically weak. I am going to chemotherapy every week, I moved back to my mom’s house in Soweto, so I could fully recover and he has been nothing but supportive during this time.”
5. QUITERIA KEKANA WAS HUMBLE
Quiteria Kekana also designed stunning matric dance dresses for high school pupils. Taking to Twitter to remember the fashion designer, one tweep praised Kekana’s humility.
“He did my matric dance dress [with] R1 000 using his own material. He had just blown up and when I told him my budget he chuckled, but he was so happy to do it. May his soul rest in peace.”
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