Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana

South African fashion designer (born 1987)

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Thabo Makhetha – Kwinana

Born|  (1987-09-21) 21 September 1987 (age 36)

Lesotho

Website| www.thabomakhetha.com

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana (21 September 1987) is a fashion designer known for her designs which fuse African and Western styles, with a focus on Basotho culture.[1]

## Early life and education[edit]

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana was born in Lesotho, but moved to South Africa when she was three years old, and has since lived there. She has lived in Mahikeng, Johannesburg,Pietermaritzburg, as well as Port Elizabeth, and currently resides in Cape Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Thabo Makhetha studied at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth where she graduated with a National Diploma in Fashion.[2]

## Career and Thabo Makhetha Fashion label[edit]

In 2009 she founded her self-named brand at the age of 21, inspired by her grandmother who was a seamstress. It was her mother who saw her talent at an early age and went further to purchase her first sewing machine. Her designs are inspired by her Basotho heritage, with a particular focus on the traditional Basotho blanket, which she incorporates into her clothing designs. She is also known for her use of vibrant African prints and patterns.[3]

Thabo Makhetha made her runway debut in 2014 at Vancouver Fashion Week in Canada,[4] where she was praised for the quality and creativity of her work for the Kobo ea Bohali "Blanket of Prestige" collection. In 2014 Makhetha-Kwinana was honored with the 2014 Impact Award.[5] In 2015 she showcased at South Africa Fashion Week and had since showcased in Lesotho, the United Kingdom and Milan, Johannesburg, and the United States of America. In 2016 then editor of Elle Magazine nominated Thabo's starburst coat for Most Beautiful Object in South Africa.[6] She has been honoured by The Nelson Mandela Chambers as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Achievers of 2014, and included in the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in 2017. In 2020 she was featured on Black Parade,[7] a Platform by US Superstar Beyonce to showcase Africa's top designers.[8] She has been featured in various publications, including Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire. In 2017, Louis Vuitton caused headlines by producing a men's collection using a similar print as Basotho blanket, a controversial move that sparked accusations of cultural appropriation.[9][10]

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana took part in artist-in-residence programme of the exhibition: “Breaking Down the Walls – 150 years of collecting at Iziko South African Museum, which commemorated Africa Day on 25 May 2023. [11]

In October 2023, in honour of CTM's 40th birthday, Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana collaborated with CTM, South Africa's leading tile retailer, to launch a limited edition tile collection.[12][13]

## Awards and accomplishments[edit]

* Impact Award for Design Excellence - 2014.
* Named Top 40 under Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 in 2014.[14]
* Elle Magazine nominated the Kobo Starburst Coat for the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa - 2016.[15]
* Mail & Guardian in Top 200 Young South Africans - 2017
* Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) Alumni 2018.[16]

## References[edit]

1. ^ King, Isa (8 July 2022). "Design Brand To Know: Thabo Makhetha". SatisFashion Uganda. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
2. ^ cardova. "FEAST YOUR EYES ON BEAUTIFUL BASOTHO-INSPIRING GARMENTS BY THABO MAKHETHA – The Insider SA". Retrieved 17 June 2023.
3. ^ "Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana: Clothes for the bold and brave". The Mail & Guardian. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
4. ^ Mbude, Phelokazi (30 October 2019). "Thabo Makhetha expands her Basotho blanket range with her own unique print". Life. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
5. ^ Matthew (26 November 2014). "Thabo Makheta-Kwinana awarded 2014 ACT ImpACT Award for Design". Arts & Culture Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
6. ^ "Design Indaba: Most Beautiful Object In South Africa 2016". Visi. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
7. ^ "Here are 20 of SA's black designers Beyoncé featured on 'Black Is King' and 'Black Parade'". TimesLIVE. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
8. ^ News, I. O. L. (3 August 2020). "Beyoncé's 'Black Parade' features over 20 South African designers". Head Topics. Retrieved 17 June 2023. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
9. ^ "Cultural inspiration or appropriation?". BBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
10. ^ "Cultural appropriation or appreciation? Louis Vuitton turns Basotho blankets into expensive fashion items | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
11. ^ "Art, Fashion and Futures". Iziko Museums. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
12. ^ https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/authors/nombuso-kumalo. "Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana launches limited-edition tile collection". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 15 October 2023. `{{cite web}}`: External link in ``|last=`` (help)
13. ^ Staff Reporter (12 October 2023). "WHEN HOMEGROWN FASHION AND FUNCTION MEET CTM announces innovative partnership with renowned fashion designer, Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana". SHOWBIZ SCOPE. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
14. ^ "Designer off to Vancouver Fashion Week". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
15. ^ MBOISA: A coat that brings tradition to a contemporary form | Design Indaba, retrieved 21 June 2023
16. ^ King, Isa (8 July 2022). "Design Brand To Know: Thabo Makhetha". SatisFashion Uganda. Retrieved 21 June 2023.

[1]

1. ^ "Impact awards reveal four young creatives you need to know". News24. Retrieved 18 June 2023.