Young local designer Orapeleng Modutle was only six months old when Brenda Fassie staged her epic 1989 "wedding of the decade" to Nhlanhla Mbambo.
Modutle, who turned 33 at the weekend, has three decades later recreated Fassie’s dreamy gown for the Sowetan40 x Netflix campaign that launched last Friday.
He is one of the emerging designers that were tasked with re-imagining the fashions of the 1980s. Sello Medupe of Scalo gave the Yvonne Chaka Chaka-look a modern twist, while Sihle Masango did the same for the Thembi Nyandeni dance number.
“I was surprised when I was asked, because I don’t remember the wedding dress, I just heard about it. Then when I did my research and discovered the statement the wedding made, it was a privilege to be part of this project,” Modutle said.
“We used to watch Brenda Fassie as an icon and listened to her music when we grew up. For me to be given this opportunity proves to any young emerging designer that whatever you put your mind and energy into you can achieve it.”
A lot of bedding went into the updated look that was originally created by design house The Boys.
“My brand is very sexy and elegant, so how we interpreted it was our fresh take on bedding with the use of modern stones like Swarovski crystals,” said Modutle
“We also used hanging tassels which gave it a cultural twist. So if you look at Zulu and Xhosa brides they usually have a headpiece that has tassels on the forehead.”
Born in the small town of Phutanang, near Kimberly in the Northern Cape, Modutle was raised by a single mother. He dreamed of becoming an actor, until his love for fashion peaked in his matric year.
“People used to like how I dressed and they pushed me to pursue a career in fashion. I used to shop in the women’s department,” Modutle said.
“I also went to a career exhibition and I saw a David Tlale stand. How he was explaining his journey in the industry further inspired me to do it.”
After high school he studied fashion design at Tswane University of Technology. In his final year, Modutle interned for Stoned Cherrie for six weeks.
He hit it off with label owner Nkhensani Nkosi and was hired as a pattern maker. A year later in 2013, Modutle launched his eponymous fashion label operating from his brother’s garage.
But his break came in 2016 after showcasing at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg and two days later Bonang Matheba donned a piece from the collection on the cover of Glam Africa.
The blue and pink number, with a bow detail, was styled with a dramatic brim hat. Matheba went viral in a video clip wearing the look and Modutle became the hottest designer in town.
His celebrity clientele includes Boity Thulo, Thuli Phongolo, Minnie Dlamini, Somizi Mhlongo and Nomzamo Mbatha. His biggest inspiration comes from movies such as The Devil Wears Prada and Maleficent – in 2017 he created a collection as an homage to the wicked Disney queen. Next, Modutle plans to launch his ready-to-wear line.
Part two of Sowetan40 x Netflix will debut exclusively in Time Out this Friday and looks at the 1990s through the lens of Neo Ntsoma and the pen of Lesley Mofokeng.
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