“I am very happy to have been awarded such a rare opportunity to collaborate with Pick n Pay Clothing, I’m overwhelmed,” said the euphoric Katekani Moreku.
After completing his National Diploma in Fashion and Textiles at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in 2019, the former alumnus has grown in leaps and bounds in the fashion arena. He has now collaborated with the renowned Pick n Pay clothing brand in South Africa, making DUT proud of his fashion achievement.
Commenting on his fashion success, DUT’s Fashion and Textiles department have said they are so proud of him and his accomplishments, as he has always been a hard working individual very dedicated to his craft. Creative director at DUT, fashion designer Gideon, said that from his student days Moreku had shown a strong design sense, unique fashion direction and more importantly he knew the risks needed in creating both his designs and establishing the ethos of his brand.
“When asked to submit a student for this opportunity he was the one I thought of first due to his strong work ethic. His brand being used under the Pick n Pay umbrella shows he understands the difference between editorial and commercial fashion and how to execute both,” he said proudly.
Speaking more on his journey to Pick n Pay Clothing, Moreku said: “I was connected to Pick n Pay through South African designer Gavin Rajah, who scouted me from university to be a part of a collaboration between young designers and Pick n Pay which he is heading,” he said.
Moreku stated that his collection is a commercial summer range with a focus more on heritage and ethics. He further said that he is enthused by the essence of what makes everyone common as a community. “It captures my perspective of a united South African heritage. I drew inspiration from all the South African cultures that I have been exposed to over the years,” he said.
Moreku also indicated that his inspiration for his collection is also largely drawn from the Sepulana culture. He said that as part of the traditional attire, the SePulana culture combines scraps of fabric and plastic material which ties in perfectly with his desire to practice sustainable fashion by upcycling different types of waste material.
Moreku indicated that the Sepulana culture (a SePedi dialect) is one of the African cultures that dabbles in the use of bright and bold colours, which has inspired his desire to be unconventional. He is also enthused by pushing boundaries, accentuating out of the box thinking and the countenance of inimitable individuality and creating wearable art.
“This was a collaborative project, I do not work for Pick n Pay as I am still an undefended designer,” he said.
Moreku’s future goal is to have solidified fashion business and continuing growing his fashion brand in South Africa.
Pictured: Katekani Moreku with his Pick n Pay Clothing brand.
Waheeda Peters
