Lesego Malatsi

Lesego Malatsi has designs on shaking up the South African fashion world. He passionately believes in developing and empowering the next generation of black South African designers.

His company, Mzansi Designers, based in Jo'burg, is nurturing new design talent, creating jobs and catching the eye of the international fashion pack. It’s bringing more African-inspired fashion to the catwalk and now to the high street, too.

After graduating from the Peninsula Technikon with a National Diploma in Clothing Design, Lesego knew only too well the problems facing fashion graduates in South Africa. Reasonably priced working space and equipment is hard to find. It can be daunting to start a fashion label on your own.

That’s part of the reason he created Mzansi Designers. He’d already launched his own label Antony Couture cc, which grew to be an internationally successful fashion house. Now he wants to help other up and coming designers do the same.

Mzansi Designers’ aim is to design, manufacture and distribute exclusive African-inspired men’s and women’s wear. The company acts a platform for emerging fashion talent, equipping them with all the facilities, skills and extra support they might need to get ahead. And by doing this, they’re improving the people’s quality of life by creating sustainable jobs, reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty through the fashion industry.

It’s true to say Lesego is an investor in people. The company nurtures staff by giving them technical skills training, business management training and running motivational and self-esteem building programmes. As more designers emerge they become role models, inspiring and enabling others to follow in their footsteps.

Further confidence in the company came when Mzansi Designers was named the official designers and suppliers of 2010 Soccer World Cup apparel for the City of Johannesburg.

They are currently in the process of establishing retail stores across South Africa and internationally.

Mzansi Designers gives young designers the chance to express their South African identity creatively through the medium of fashion. Lesego is passionate about mentoring the younger designers they employ, and hopes that by cultivating their talents they will help strengthen the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs.

“In South Africa we need to do a lot more to support entrepreneurs,” says Lesego. “If entrepreneurs are well equipped, well funded and supported then they will be able to contribute to
the growth of the country by paying taxes, helping alleviate unemployment and fighting poverty.”

Mzansi Designers is tailoring its own success, but what are the plans for the future? Well, they
plan to establish more branches nationally and internationally. And grow the product range to
incorporate:

- Childrens Wear
- Underwear
- Cosmetics
- Eyewear
- Shoes and bags
- Accessories
- Home furnishings

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