Singer and TV personality Nandi Mngoma debuted her fashion line “Colour” with a bang.
The petite Durban-born star worked in collaboration with Inga Madyibi to present a colourful and feminine Spring and Summer collection that paid homage to the kaleidoscopic African continent.
Mngoma’s Wednesday night showcase at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Joburg (MBFWJ). As part of a handful of Durban-born celebrities that collaborated with designers, as part of the (AFI) Fastrack program.
Others included Dj Zinhle and Chesney Williams, Dj Tira and Buda Malete as well Minnie Dlamini and Tayla Nguskos .
It wasn’t just the clothes that stole the show but Mngoma flaunted her baby bump at the end of the show in a belly-hugging white short dress. The audience went into a frenzy of excitement and social media reacted accordingly with a number of congratulations and surprise at how she managed to keep the pregnancy a secret.
Speaking from backstage after her show Mngoma said that Transitioning from singer to designer came naturally to her.
“At the end of the day it’s all about art and expressing yourself in a artistic way. When I came up with the idea of “Colour” I wanted to represent the continent,” she says.
“I wanted to show that we are not just about tribal prints… we love prints but it’s also about other styles as well and I wanted my collection to represent that;
“There is so much colour and talent in the continent that we are the cradle of fashion ,” she says.
Mngoma with her signature short afro and flawless fashion style sets her apart. Madyibi is one of her go-to designers for most of her red carpet looks.
“What a journey it has been, this is something that I have always wanted to do. A friend of mine from Durban recently reminded me of how I had a fashion line in High School, selling slogan t-shirts…it did very well that at times I didn’t have to ask my parents for money;” she says.
“The most important thing for me is that I am learning and partnering with other people, learning from the best. Madyibi is amazing and more than anything is that he is an amazing human being;
“As much as his work is great, himself as a person is special. He has a great mind and soul and that is important, to work with someone that you genuinely love,” Mngoma says.
It’s important for us women to love ourselves and to celebrates our differences regardless of what colour or shape you are, she says. “The woman that wears “Colour” is bold, she is beautiful, she is sure of herself and she is a proudly African woman at the same time; “She loves celebrating colour, her colour, her melanin or whatever her skin tone is, light or dark chocolate, she loves who she is,” she adds.