The Sunday News
Allan Foti
HAD he towed the line and gone with his relatives’ career plans for him, Leon Nkwazi would today be studying towards a High Diploma in Civil Engineering.
But a strong passion for fashion drew him in a different direction much to the dismay of his father, himself an engineer by profession. Since deciding to take path of his own, Nkwazi started his own fashion line which he name Leone Royalty.
Nkwazi’s personality-rich clothing isn’t for those who want to go unnoticed. (Seriously, good luck blending in with the looks he comes up with). The 23-year-old Gwabalanda resident’s plan is simple: dressing the red-carpet and street-style sets. Sunday Life chats to the budding designer.
On why he became a designer:
“My father and my maternal uncle’s were pushing me towards studying for a Diploma in Civil Engineering. I loved all things fashion. I realised early on that there was no way to push that fashion design bug down. In the beginning I had this if/when/then thinking about it: Oh, I’ll start when I can achieve that.’ So I spent a long time killing that dream. I don’t know what exactly gave me the fire to give it a go, but it had a lot to do with my own dress sense. I have this unshakable confidence, like, ‘why shouldn’t I do this?’?”
On his design aesthetic:
“I specialise in what I like to streetwear.I have everything from very voluminous, generous, cozy clothes to cutout pieces that are more revealing. I feel like I’m a version of all those young men and women at any different time. I have to want to wear each piece, and not just see the model or celebrity in it, but see myself in it. However, I have also done work for my more formal and older clientele.”
On his point of view:
“With my stuff, there has to be an emotional connection to get yourself into it. I don’t think we’re for everyone. I’m sure there are people who think what we do is heinous, and that’s great because it means we’ve got a point of view. I don’t feel I need to be everything to everybody.”
On his muses:
“I have a hard time with the word muse because it feels sort of objectifying, but at the end of the day, music really inspires me and push me to start, so for me music is my muse. My uncle the Honorable Ntandoyenkosi Mlilo (Luveve-Cowdray Park Member of Parliament) is probably the closest person to me that is typical of a muse. He challenges me at every turn which makes me work harder to prove him wrong.”
On the importance of fashion:
“I don’t buy into this whole frivolous fashion thing. I don’t think it’s wasteful or indulgent. It’s nice to get dressed up and celebrate sometimes. Those are important, meaningful moments, especially in hard times.”
On growing the business:
“Right now, I can’t stop thinking about attending fashion shows locally, regionally and internationally. I can’t stop thinking about ensuring that my fashion label reach’s markets that are generally not conceivable to local designers. I don’t know that it’s going to be a great money-making venture, but I feel pulled in that direction.”
On people’s reception to his work:
“I think I have made quite a statement among my peers and even older fashionistas. I’m making a decent living from designing and sewing clothes under the Leone Royalty label. My biggest challenge right now is that I only have one sewing machine so my plan is to acquire an industrial machine that will allow me to produce more in a short space of time.” -@AllanFoti
