Very few women stand on the list of Africa’s legendary fashion designers but Palesa Makobung ranks high. For over a decade, the trendsetting designer has showcased African fashion straight from the heart, gaining recognition on the continent and beyond. Her Fashion brand Mantosho was founded in 2005 and is the first and only African brand flagged in H&M. Here with us in a Q & A, the designer gets candid with ZUBA Network on her becoming, drive and aspirations for the future.
Qn. Who is Palesa Mokubung?
- Palesa Mokubung is an International Fashion Designer, mother, wife, leader, creative director of Mantsho and the First African Designer to collaborate with H&M.
Qn. When did your brand start and what inspired it?
- Mantsho is celebrating its 17th Year in the industry. It was inspired by my love for creating and working with clothing came naturally to me. I could deconstruct my mother’s top or blanket at midnight on the kitchen counter. I loved the spontaneity of being able to create clothing, that’s how it started. Then I went to study fashion and acquired my Bachelor of Arts Degree and realisedhow much of an artform it actually was and that’s when I fell more in love with it.
Qn. What is the origin of your brand name “Mantsho”?
- Mantsho is a Sesotho name which means a beautiful strong black girl but it has had so many wonderful meanings and interpretations over the years. It is rooted in pride!!! Mantsho is a name I was given by my grandmother to describe my beauty, my culture, my personality, my character and the level of pride and confidence I had as a child.
Qn. Other than clothes what does your brand represent?
- My brand represents all that is good and inspiring in the deepest sense you can think off but here are some words that come to mind: Relentless and Focus, Passion and Drive, Mission and Vision, Creativity and Presentation, Service and
Quality, Excellence and Authenticity, Pride and Joy, Honor and Respect, Love and Patience, Women, Size, Shape, Complexion Confidence, Rough, Raw, Refined the list goes on. Mantsho is a chosen profound brand, a brand that proves a God given talent along with all of the above.
Qn. How do you define fashion?
- Fashion is a powerful tool.
Qn. How did it feel being the first African fashion brand to partner with H&M?
- The MantshoxHM collaboration was more than a dream come true. The partnership was extremely valuable and necessary for the industry. I was most proud to bring Mantosho to the Globe.
Qn. What do you attribute your success to?
- The Grace of God, commitment, hard work and a good heart.
Qn. How do you feel about the emerging generation of designers; what part of
the system do you think they are ignoring and shouldn’t?
- I’m always of the mind that people are doing their best with what they have… otherwise we wouldn’t know of them. The rest is things they will discover as they grow.
Qn. Tell us about the Resort Collection?
- AFWME Dubai Resort Collection 2023: This is our first ever Resort Collection and it inspired the Mantsho Woman and her busy Lifestyle. With this Collection we urge her to slow down, pace herself and practice self-care. The collection explores 3 main colour ways… Reds for Vitality, pinks for Femininity and mints for Elegance. All these colours evoke a feeling of Luxury, Exuberance and Effortlessness. Flounces, ruffle, organza, zipper details! All these are used in an intelligent way and juxtaposed with Mantsho’s signature prints to create a feast for the eyes. because the Mantsho woman is fearless, modern and feminine just like the collection you saw at the AFWME in Dubai
Qn. What is your one piece of advice for a woman who wants to stand out?
- Always prepare for any room you walk into and once you’re in that room always keep your chin up. Literally keep your chin up a little bit and you’ll stand out.
Follow Palesa Mokbung on Instagram
