August 29, 2003
By Lucille Davie
LOXION KULCA clothing co-owner Sechaba "Chabi" Mogale says that what he likes about Joburgers is their energy.
"I love the energy, people here are constantly doing something," he says. And that includes him - he's always on the go, particularly this week, where he's exhibiting the latest Loxion Kulca designs at the four-day SA Fashion Week on at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Loxion Kulca is the label of the hottest street wear to be seen wearing these days, created by Mogale and his partner, Wandi Nzimande, a Sowetan, back in 1997. Mogale describes it as having come about quite informally when the two of them were walking the streets of Berea and Yeoville.
"We were broke and trying all kinds of living," he says. They wore close-fitting crocheted skullcaps that were noticed by others.
"They liked our caps, and asked us if they could buy them from us," he explains.
The caps were crocheted by their families and friends. The hats were "very special" in that their small rims could "flop outwards or droop close to the head". Mogale says they were nothing new, "we just added new colours in new combinations" and they took off.
And then the clothing range followed. "We were tired of the international brands, we wanted something local." They were guided by producing "comfortable clothes that we wanted to wear" and those clothes had a "street feel".
In other words, "clothing with a loose fit with pockets in the right places, for keys or a cellphone". The fabrics are "utility quality", which the wearer could "wear and keep their temperature constant".
"Loxion" is a slang derivative of "location", apartheid's label for areas designated for blacks, nowadays referred to as townships.
Mogale is not a Joburger by birth - he was born in Lusaka, Zambia, 27 years ago and met his partner at school in Midrand. He now lives in the northern suburbs and runs the business, which outsources to a Durban clothing factory, from a Jeppestown office. He employs a staff of 19.
Loxion Kulca is branching out into trendy jewellery, belts and colourful takkies, on display for the first time at SA Fashion Week. By December they're going to launch a range of clothing for kids.
He says the business is very much based on the principle of "ubuntu", which he describes as "respecting your fellow man and therefore, respecting yourself, and having pride in your country". He says that both him and Nzimande learnt this from their grandmothers, and want to impart their expertise now to other up-and-coming designers.
Loxion Kulca clothing can be bought across the country from 150 outlets, and in Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia. And further afield in the US, Europe and Australia, with plans to export it to China and Japan. In Joburg you can get your piece of Loxion Kulca clothing from Skipper Bar, Guys and Girls, Patrick Daniel and Edgars in shopping centres throughout the city.
