Drizzles domain: Profile on Tangeni Kambudu

Tangeni Kambudu is an amazing illustrator, and designer. I got to know him quite well, we studied at the same academy and I am so glad I could do this post on him.

Tangeni Kambudu

Who is Tangeni?

· I’m TangeniKambudu born September 2, 1987 in Windhoek, Namibia. Moved to Oranjemund, Namibia in 1995… where I started attending the Oranjemund Private School primary. I adapted a keen interest for drawing and using colour and with that said I continued pursuing drawing and trying to develop my own ideas. The year 2000 I left Oranjemund (home) to attend high school in Windhoek at an all-boys school could Boys Pioneers High School but gradually come to Cape Town and matriculated at Boston House College in 2008. I personally feel my move to Cape Town played a big role in developing and finding the creative side of me which eventually led me to studying fashion design and I fell in love with it straight away.

In 2010 I went to Johannesburg as an undergraduate to study fashion design at SperoVillioti: The Elite Design Academy but ended up leaving Johannesburg and come back to Cape Town in 2013 to pursue my studies at the Cape Town College of Fashion Design where I eventually graduated.

I’m interestedin art-forms of: fashion, interior, fine-art and food.

I source inspiration from anything and everything from my daily vision but I mainly focus on what appeals creative to me.

As a further testament:

I am a hard worker, reliable, adapt well, friendly and easy-going yet polite. I enjoy drawing, painting, illustrating and designing items. I don't conceder myself a fashion designer yet but an aspiring fashion designer to be.

Who is your icon? And why?

· I have two icons Johnny Depp and Yohji Yamamoto. Johnny Depp: for his quirkiness, spontaneous attitude, sense of humour and how he portrays and plays his characters in his movies. I also admire his sense of style which I personally feel (it’s a very Johnny Depp original) and the retro look that he wears well. Yohji Yamamoto: for, how he constructs his mind in interviews…it inspires me on a level of be true to yourself…him just being true to himself and answering questions with such deep contents. His deep and artistic views on creating garments inspire me as he says “I am not a designer. I hate fashion design. I am a dress maker.” To me, YohjiYamamoto is more than just about creating garments….he’s an artist expressing himself via fashion design.

Designer Yohji Yamamoto

Actor Johnny Depp

What type of designer do you see yourself as?

· An artistic designer.

"Energy!" Outfit...Stand on Collar Tailored Jumpsuit.

"Harmony!" Outfit...Bell Bottom Trouser with a Stand on Collar Sleeveless Top.

"Happiness!" Outfit...Structured Skirt with a Cropped Sleeveless Hoodie Top.

"Personality!" outfit... Colour Blocked Skirt with a Hand Painted Cape.

"Expressionism!" Outfit...Structured Skirt with a Colour Blocked Top.

Who do your prefer to design for men or women?

· I would prefer women.

What part of the design process do you like most?

· The creative thinking part. Idea after idea.

Describe the perfect client.

· Someone who treats his/her wardrobe as though they were a curator of an art gallery.

If you could intern for any design, living or dead, who would it be and why?

· YohjiYamamoto,because he’s comfortable in being in “Black” and I’m comfortable in being in colour. “I’m not interested in fashion generally. I’m interested in how to cut the clothing”-Yohji Yamamoto. I, myself… am not interested in fashion generally. I’m interested in using apparel design as a canvas. The point is being true and honest to yourself. Why intern at Yohji Yamamoto… because he’s true and honest to himself.

What is your fashion advice to ladies for this winter?

· Keep warm.

What piece of clothing should every lady have in her closet?

· A pair of stilettos.

What are your thoughts on cheap apparel vs designer apparel?

· Well…1^st and for most I’ll say…now’s fashion market is very flat and real creative apparel has little space for growth, however though…I feel there is a comparison but there’s no difference between cheap and designer apparel as it always draws down tothe consumer what he/she can afford. For me… there is no difference but there is a comparison... in terms of material used, hand detail, what method of manual labour is used, etc.