Lesotho’s ‘Prince of African Fashion’ tells of unique story

The collaboration project between the University of Johannesburg and the Durban University of Technology is on a road show to Lesotho to display and research more about the work of the Martin Molefe Memory Project, featuring the man who was termed the ‘Prince of African Fashion’ back in the 1960s.

The project is layered in three themes, ranging from the 1962 Lesotho Royal Wedding to the Black Pageantry and a ready-to-wear designer.

Dubbed by the publications in the 60’s as the ‘Prince of African Fashion’ and the first ‘African designer’ in South Africa, this is Martin Molefe’s untold story.

The #Martin_Molefe Memory Project, dubbed the ‘African Prince of Fashion’ designed 13 brides maid dresses for the Lesotho Royal Wedding in 1962, also dressed the Black Miss South Africa in the late 50’s. This is his untold story. ⁦@Sophie_Mokoena⁩ #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/J3C6iqEtnM

— Rapelang Radebe (@ntateRaps) September 28, 2024

Dr Khaya Mchunu from the Department of Fashion Design at the Faculty of Arts, University of Johannesburg says, “We found Martin Molefe while we were paging, just documenting his life. Molefe seems to have developed a specialty in women’s wear, he had also dressed the 13 contestants for Miss South Africa in the late 1950s just before the Lesotho Royal Wedding. This was in 1956, Miss South Africa was featured in Drum Magazine. Molefe captured the fashion industry, working with some beautiful classic silhouettes in the late 1950s and 1960s.”

As Lesotho celebrates October ‘Tourism Month’, it embraces its heritage and culture as a combination needed to boost internal tourism for the Kingdom.

The Martin Isaack Molefe Memory Project is calling on people who may have records of any of his other works to help them expand telling this unique story of the Prince of the African Fashion.