Welcome to our Magzine, Mekay Designs! Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from?
I’m from South Africa. My hometown is a little town called Benoni.
What’s your educational background?
I graduated at STADIO Faculty Arts & Design (formerly LISOF) in 2016 with a BA Degree in Fashion Design, winning ‘Best 3rd Year Menswear Range’ for my final collection, called AWAKEN. In 2017 I started working for STADIO as a Graphic Designer and a Higher Certificate Design Lecture while completing my Honours in Fashion which was based on ‘What is the effect of active learning in the classroom?’.
What are your general professional and non-professional interests?
This was the start of my fashion and design career as I developed a niche, evolved a passion, and was constantly inspired by my students as I saw them grow into designers. I lecturing until 2020, as I’m a strong believer in self-growth and this was my reason for undertaking a BA Degree in Interior Design at Greenside Design Center in 2021 while developing and spending more time on my brand called MeKay Designs. I’m currently running my brand, studying second year Interior Design and lecturing at INSCAPE Education Group Pretoria.
What does fashion mean to Mekay Designs?
Fashion is a lifestyle it’s brought through all aspects around you from interior, exterior, accessories and to your everyday outfit. It’s a story that expresses your personality and is related to our current lifestyle. Fashion is everything.
How would you define your city’s fashion?
I’m truly blessed to be in a country filled with so many different cultures and rich aesthetics. We are filled with music, prints, dance and textures as this is expressed within my current collection I’ve created.
When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
From a young age I always had interest in design and when I graduated with my BA Honours Degree in Fashion I knew my goal would be to represent my country and become a well known designer. It’s been a long journey and yet this is only the beginning of so much more.
What was the first article of clothing you ever designed?
My menswear collection called, AWAKEN won ‘Best 3rd Year Menswear Range’ .
How long does it usually take to construct a piece for Mekay Designs?
It all depends on the construction and materials we are working with.
Describe the general process you go through to design and realize a piece of clothing.
As I stated before it’s all about a story and with this your design becomes successful. We brainstorm, create a moodboard, draw rough drawings and then we move into technical drawings. We created working patterns, moving into finished patterns and sewed up a mock up before using the original fabric.
What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?
Being a designer isn’t just about yourself, you are a person that can inspire and support ones around you. I’ve worked with charity by supplying our material masks to the underprivileged people as well as working with Reach For A Dream, recreating their clown outfits. The brand has always encouraged to create jobs and internship positions.
Who are some of your favorite designers?
Virgil Abloh.
Where can readers buy your clothes/ jewelry?
On our website, follow @mekay_design and you will see the link.
How long have you worked as a designer?
I have been in the industry since 2017 and only in 2021 while developing and spending more time on my brand called MeKay Designs.
How do you select your models?
Selecting a model is dependent on your style and look of the shoot we want to create. Our brand’s aim is to not categories a person but to create a garment that will work for our wearier, expressing their strongest features of their body.
What do you believe makes a quality article of clothing?
It’s all created within your fit, finishes, fabric and details.
Do you consider yourself an artist?
Yes.
What matters to Mekay Designs most as a fashion designer?
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