Black Renaissance: Designer fi

Wanda Lephoto’s mom modeling his AW21 collection. Image via Instagram @wandalephoto

Black Renaissance: Designer finds thread of colonialism in SA fashion

To celebrate Africa Day, here is an inside look at fashion designer Wanda Lephoto’s Autumn Winter 2021 collection.

Black Renaissance: Designer fi

Wanda Lephoto’s mom modeling his AW21 collection. Image via Instagram @wandalephoto

This Africa Day we look at South African fashion designer Wanda Lephoto’s Autumn Winter 2021 (AW21) collection titled Black Renaissance which makes use of South African style to confront colonialism. 

THE BLACK RENAISSANCE COLLECTION

Wanda Lephoto dives deeply into the impact of British colonialism on South Africa’s identity and dress practices through her Black Renaissance collection. The collection looks at South Africa from 1850 to the year of democracy in 1994. 

“Represent years of oppression, suppression and liberation, not only of our people but of dreams,” said Lephoto according to online publication Nataal.

The creative first launched his menswear label in 2016 and celebrated his heritage and culture through his style. 

“Wanda Lephoto®, we are a work-in-progress brand and we are here to tell our story,” wrote Lephoto on Instagram.

Lephoto is the co-founder of The Sartists and his work has been exhibited at the Brighton Museum and MoMA. 

WANDA LEPHOTO USES PARENTS AS MODELS

Through this collection, the Johannesburg-based designer seeks to understand how today’s melting pot of culture and aesthetics has come to pass and how representation can be freely re-imagined in the future.

“This idea of how craftsmanship from the past has been interpreted in new and modern ways form bigger conversations around where collectively as people we are going and how to get there,” said Lephoto.

In celebrating his heritage, the designer used both his mother and father as models for some of the collection’s key looks.

“My father, Clement Xaba wears our re-imagined Zion Christian Church [ZCC] inspired khaki biker jacket with flower appliqué and green and khaki split pant,” wrote Lephoto on Instagram. 

“My mother, Martha Lephoto wears our Gingham Dress with our Yellow Flower Appliqué Raincoat,” wrote Lephoto on Instagram.

LOOK: WANDA LEPHOTO AW21 COLLECTION 

The pictures in this collection were shot by photographer Aart Verrips.