society

Aug. 22, 2019

LINEO MABEKEBEKE

2 min read

Talented designer with unique style

Talented designer with unique style

Qiloane Hats by Mlatz Afro Designs

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MASERU - Molateli Talanyane better known as Mlatz is prominent local designer who is into nature inspired outfits and specialises in Qiloane hats. His unique hats have branded him as one of the top in the trade in Lesotho.

Mlatz created an Afrocentric entity known as Mlatz Afro Designs which he registered in 2010. The different original clothing designs within the Mlatz brand depict Lesotho`s history, with inspiration drawn from the root of the Sesotho culture.

The Qiloane hat pays homage to a hill in Maseru while also depicting the shape of the Mokorotlo hat, a cultural icon in its own right. The Mlatz brand enjoyed some limelight with its hat portraying images of three late Basotho Queens. “These were presented to Her Majesty Queen ’Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso during her birthday in June,” Mlatz said.

His passion for innovation and creativity was ignited from an early age after he started showing signs of innate ability to draw. This is talent he was to later merge with the discipline of fashion designing by selecting the said path at college. The creativity was further nourished as he also demonstrated undivided interest in entrepreneurship, an essential component to not be ignored if any company or business is to survive.

Spearheading various art related groups in the country such as the Arts Link Lesotho and Botho Arts Market, Mlatz has also featured in a number of local and international markets.

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Mlatz hopes to be a leading manufacturer of Afro-centric fashion products in South Africa and a distinguished Afro wear manufacture known worldwide for quality and unique products setting new trends and lifestyle.

Mlatz Afro Design is committed to providing customers with Afro-centric fashionable and innovative clothing design and accessories to its customers. Mlatz said: “We understand African tradition and heritage and we want to innovate and revive culture by mixing it with elegance and art.”

The Qiloane hat is a modern Basotho hat inspired by the conical shape of the Thaba-Bosiu’s Qiloane Mountain. The hat is crafted using different fabrics such as Seshoeshoe, the original fabric for Basotho Culture, mohair, Litema patterns, Bushman art and Lesotho flag colours.

The queen’s brand depicts the images of the three late queens - Nkhono Kholu (King Moshoeshoe I’s mother) Queen ’Mamohato Bereng Seeiso (His Majesty King Letsie III’s mother) also the founder of Hlokomela Bana organisation – an orphanage for vulnerable children, and Queen ’Mants’ebo Seeiso - the first woman to rule Lesotho.

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