David Tlae: Bringing Africa to the Runway

Fashion designer, David Tlale has introduced a culmination of African culture and modern fashion to the runways. In case you were expecting a collection of Kinte pattern clothes, you guessed wrong. He calls himself a creative who doesn’t do fashion but he is fashion. The David Tlale brand is filled with vibrant colors and prints that give off an aura reflecting nature and beauty or as Tlale calls it, the African soul.

Tlale’s 2013 autumn/winter collection ripped the runway at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa. Whether you were looking for an outfit to wear to the office, or to a cocktail party or even a piece to strut down the red carpet, the David Tlale collection has the perfect outfit for any occasion. In an interview with Huffington Post Tlale says, “I want my product to speak to anyone—whether you’re in Europe, the United States or South Africa. If you love it because it’s beautifully made, the fabric is chic and the finishing is everything and embellishments are everything, then buy it, it doesn’t have to scream that it’s from South Africa.” Tlale’s collection are filled with exotic blouses, dresses for women in sequins patterns as well as pockadot and checkered patterns. Tlale’s collection also has suits for men and women giving them the opportunity to spice up their office wear.

Tlale’s collection is themed “transcendence” in order to reflect its South African roots. Tlale also tells Huffington Post about his inspiration for his work; “My inspiration comes from South Africa, designed by a South African—but taking it globally. My inspiration comes from color—the beautiful sunrises with oranges and yellows leading into the sunsets with black. The print has bit of a jungle motif coming through, but ist done in very chic and elegant way. The lines in the collection are very sophisticated and very clean. Workmanship has been paid attention to like never before,.” said Tlale while sharing what sparks his inspiration with Huffington Post.

The South African native was born and raised in Volsoorus, Boksburg. He studied auditing on his first admission into college but found disinterest in the subject very quickly. Growing up he described himself as “flamboyant” and “fast-forward.” Tlale claims he enjoyed dressing his sister’s Barbie dolls at a young age. In 2003, Tlale enrolled into Vaal University of Technology to study fashion. In an interview with Youth Village, he explains his experience during his first showcase at Paris Fashion Week: “It was humbling and exhilarating at the same time. It was a great opportunity for me to get my brand the international exposure it needed at the time and show Paris what this country can do in fashion.”

In 2008, Tlale was voted the most stylish person at the annual SA Style Awards and Mzansi’s “Star Fashion Designer” at the Mzansi Star Awards. Tlale has done designs for British supermodel, Jourdan Dunn, which was showcased at the 2008 Virgin Mobile Capte Town Fashion Week. Designers Oscar de la Renta and Donna Karan have also been found in David Tlale’s collection. David Tlale’s fashion has been found in the streets of New York City and many other major cities around thefashion capitals of the world. Tlale explains his ultimate goal, “ I am proud to say that my product is designed and made here and that’s the message that I’m taking to the world. I may not be pushing the African prints, but the African soul is alive in my clothes.”