Lolwetu Pakati

Fashion Designer

Lives in

Cape Town

Why fashion design? Why not be an astronaut or a F1 racer?

Its something that i’ve been passionate about my whole life, I remember growing up as a child I always used to make sketches of dresses and all these different outfits in my school books and I've always expressed to my family how that is really my passion in life as cliche as it sounds. However recently I found my focus shifting from want to actually design and creating apparel to documenting and writing about it, so that is what I'm really trying to push at the moment and that’s what I want to invest in for the future. 

What is fashion to you?

Fashion to me represents a magnitude of things: most importantly it is a way for artistic expression which actually psychologically changes a person drastically, thats why fashion can never be just clothes or accessories, its always so much more than that. Secondly I think fashion is actually a lifestyle because if you think about just  fashion design alone, it teaches one discipline, skills and perseverance because it is not an easy craft at all.  

Do you think your personality contributes or plays a role in your craft?

I absolutely believe that my personality greatly impacts my craft because I'm like a chameleon in a sense, I always switch up my style and one second I want to do one thing and the next I want to do something completely different. I often don’t switch up on people, like everyone knows my personality as a very distinct one like everyone knows i’m the loud bubbly one who says stupid  things and is funny at times but mostly awkward, but when it comes to creating things, because of the fact that I have an eclectic bunch of influences and inspirations, its always changing. I often am so conflicted with my personality because I feel like it’s too much and I feel like sometimes I take up too much space which I think is an emotion that is steamed from insecurity at times but then again I also think that I am an incredible person and there is no one else like me so I must carry on projecting love and light into this world and into other peoples lives 

Describe your style, work ethic and your opinion on relationships with other artists.

My style is eclectic hence it changes from day to day. One day I’ll dress super sporty, then really feminine the next day but ideally, if I had unlimited resources and I could just buy whatever, I think then my style would be androgynous, monochrome, unfitted apparel situation, if that makes any sense.

My work ethic, I will be brutally honest isn't too great when I'm doing stuff that I'm not excited or passionate about but I've grown up with a lot of discipline and respect so I always believe that I have to put in the same amount of effort in everything that I do. Just my time management is a bit tricky but I’m working on that.

My opinion of the relationships that develop between other artists is that its always so cool to see artists from different industries collaborating with one another. I do think that maybe there is a great sense of comfortability that develops between these artists that so often they only want to work with the same people over and over again which is nice to see but also excludes other artists the from  opportunity to create new things with one another. 

Your goals back in school

I just really wanted to do well academically because in primary school I wasn't like that smart and I used to struggle with the school work but once I got to high school I did a lot better and I was always pushing myself to always try get really good marks. I used to love economics so much and I actually wanted to study politics and economics at UCT but fashion design really had my heart. 

How does Cape Town influence your craft?

Cape Town plays such a big influences because aesthetically the city is literally one of the most beautiful cities that I've ever seen, like the amount of art and culture we have in this city is amazing. And then the different people you meet all carry different energies and vibes that can really inspire me channel that into my creations.

Things I do for fun and things I cannot live without

For fun I literally just try to eat out and go to as many nice restaurants and hang out with my friends where ever it is. I also enjoy going to the beach lot and like doing active things such as hiking (I sound so white).  And things I cannot live without are my mom, my best friend and movies and music. 

Has there ever been a point where you doubted yourself?

Literally almost everyday I doubt myself because I think I'm at the point in my life where a lot of big changes are happening and so I'm never quite sure whether the decisions I make that entirely the right ones. For example, I'm changing courses and moving to a different school and city so theres always doubt in the back of my mind of whether I'm making the right decision. 

Motto

Like just be the best you you can be.

Three words that describe Lolwetu?

Outspoken, quirky, extra.

Do you follow trends?

No, I don't follow trends, I set them(Yaaaass!). Lmao I'm just playing, I won't even lie I jumped on the tracksuit trend. 

A fashion trend that should choke and die?

Cultural appropriation in the fashion industry has got to go. It's not on at all and it's bullshit. 

Aspirations when you finish studying?

Travel and documenting and writing are at the top of the list and just build a brand for myself that will grant me amazing opportunities in the industry. 

By 22 I would have liked to:

Have traveled to at least 5 different countries in Africa and overseas and I would like to be published in I-D magazine and just doing the most in the industry. I'm really shooting for the stars here.

Would you still pursue fashion without the qualification?

I would because this is all I want to do with my life and even if I don't have the qualification I would make sure the I can show my skill in anyway possible so that I can get opportunities to gain experience in the industry.

Favorite phrase to say?

How you doing ? (But then say it like Wendy Williams does) 

Favorite color to wear?

White 

@lols_pak

Your fashion no-no?

As I mentioned before, anything that cultural appropriates 

Fruit salad or McFeast?

I would have to say fruit salad purely because I’m a vegetarian but if you had asked Veggie McFeast with large fries I would pick that option. 

Jhene Aiko or Beyonce?

Beyonce without a doubt.

A$AP ROCKY or Travis Scott?

A$AP ROCKY AF ! Travis Scott is amazing but anyone who knows me knows that I've had the biggest crush on A$AP Rocky for the longest time. I love him. He is my baby. 

photocredit: @alexzono

November, 2017