S
ipho Tleane is a self-taught fashion
designer who started off patching and
restyling trousers for his music group and
friends. From an early age he observed fashion
as more than just trend and style but an artistic
way of expression and representation. “It was
after the realisation that fashion is a form of
art, anything aesthetic attracts me.” As
a self-taught designer he grasped
most of his skills from his aunt and
inspiration from his friend Lethabo
Malete. “My aunt used to tailor her
own clothes, so she'd have scarps
of material lying around her
house, so I'd design and sew
from looking at her sew my
clothes and her own. I think
that's where I caught the bug.”
“I also enrolled for a fashion
design class at Seshego FET
College but I had to drop out
because I already knew almost
everything. So the classes
were boring. From an early age
I started sketching paintings,
and since then I've been
fascinated in the texture, design
and style of clothing. I started
studying on my own, visiting
fashion-related websites and
reading every magazine/publication
I could get my hands on and that is how
I started C-T Clothing and Design”.
His work has evolved since he started
his own label and his pieces have
become more appealing to people as a
result.
www.megaartists.co.za
Aug-Sep 2016
Page 8