Funeka Ngwevela is totally obsessed with fashion and all that engulfs fashion, Only 22 and has chosen the fashion path she was to thread. The art of styling, she does not believe that one should have to sit in the a confined four-wall environment to know how to style; It should come from within. This South African beauty ignores the mockery and jests of the ”not-so-fashion-forward” friends and carries on her uniqueness! Funkela with her deep passion for the old school style of fashion, fashion photography, she’s out to take the fashion world by a storm!

FashionAfrica had the chance to catch up with this bubbly up and coming talent, here’s what she had to say..

FashionAfrica: What part of Southern Africa are you from exactly?

Funkela Ngwevela: I am from South Africa

FA: A lot of people know you as quirkystylista; Tell us a little more than we know about you already!( Your hobbies, your interests inclusive)

FN: My name is Funeka Ngwevela a 22 year old from Johannesburg. I am a vintage devotee. The 1920s and 1960s inspire me a lot. I have a muse for high fashion photography such as the works of Craig Mcdean . If am not vintage shopping I treat myself to live bands.

FA: How did this love/obsession for fashion come about?

FN: Spending a lot of time in a small town called Grahamstown has influenced me a lot. The town is rich of art and people with all walks of life and I felt compelled to take and learn something from everyone. That for me was fashion.

FA: How would you describe your style and what inspires this style of yours?

FN: My style is divided into two there is ‘the quirky stylista’ that is the quirky, carefree side of me and highly experimental when it comes to clothes. The other side is ‘Mademioselle Funi’ that is the classy, elegant and sophisticated side of me. ‘Mademoiselle funi’ explores the motto which says ‘how you dressed is how you will be addressed’.  I always “I feel like a French woman trapped in a Xhosa body”. So my style is Retro, Classic and effortless. The 1920s and 60s inspire and influence my wadrobe.

FA: What do you enjoy most about styling?

FN: I regard styling as art. Styling allows me to explore and experiment with clothes and create different looks.

FA: I would assume that being African could have put some strain on the ‘fashion lifestyle’ how did your community, family, friends accept this quirkiness?

FN: I have not yet been accepted by the community at large. I am always ridiculed and laughed at by those who have no sense of style. It does not really bother me because I believe we should all strive to be different and leave a mark!

FA: We noticed that you have done some styling for some photo shoots, did you at any point gone to Styling school?

FN: Yes, I have worked on a number of shoots such as the Charity Cases Show. I have never been to any styling. I believe that you cannot study styling because it is a talent from within.

FA: Have you had the opportunity to style any famous figures yet?

FN: No, not yet

FA: Are you into fashion full-time?

FN: No, I have other commitments like a regular job but that does not mean my dedication to fashion is waning. I put it first.

FA: You do some modelling as well, How do you balance everyday life, modelling, styling, blogging?

FN: Modelling and styling are not things I do everyday but given the chance I would.

FA: You were recently featured in an African Magazine, How did you feel about that?

FN: I am always looking for opportunities to put my name out there. One page of me in a magazine could be my launch pad. I am always happy.

FA: Do you see yourself doing so much more in the fashion Industry; where do you see your fashion career in 3 years?

FN: Yes!!! I would love to be behind fashion shows working with designers.

FA: Married, Single, Searching …. Which is your pick?

FN: I am single and searching for a French marquis

FA: What do you love most about your life and why?

FN: I love the people around me. They love and support what I do. Motivation goes a long way.

FA: If you had to choose a fashionista to follow their steps closely who would it be and why?

FN: Catherine Baba (the best dressed woman in Paris) I lover her work and her aura. She has captured lightening in a bottle as stylist.

FA: You have got fans, blog followers and readers who would like to be like you, what would you say to them in three words?

FN: Strive to be different (thats four words hey?)

FA: Thanks and Good Luck!

 

-‘Romola Sadiq

STYLOGENIC is a show based around the concept of a style team! The contestants are grouped in teams consisting of the various ‘style elements; a designer, stylist, makeup artist, photographer and model. They will compete as a team and will battle it out with fellow teams for the grand prize!

The host of the show is Agbani Darego. The first and only black African winner of the Miss World.

The show will air during the summer after the World Cup and entries for contestants will open in a few months and from what we hear, it will be open to all Africans with casting calls held in various cities.

Stay tuned to here to know when casting begins, and other goodies to follow.

Arieta is 29 and has been working in fashion at various capacities for 10 years in the UK. – A window dresser for GAP which allowed her access to seeing how looks are pulled together as worldwide GAP is applauded or their fabulous and consistent windows, while working as a window dresser for GAP in brighton she started to get involved in styling.

Getting back to London she started to assist veteran stylists like Didi Danso and Karen Klarkson on a weekly basis, she also got work experiene at fashion magazines like RED, Just 19, Sneak and smash hits where she met Henry Holland. She then moved on to fashion PR and worked as press officer for a popular brand on high street but still styled part time. She has styled a variety of people from Boy bands like Tripple 8 ad Blue to TV presenters like Myleen Klass, June Sarpong, zezi and supermodel Agyness denn and LILY ALLEN. She also styled Deola Sagoes Spring/Summer 2007 on line look book and did the same for other up and coming african designers in the UK like, ZED EYE which she is also a creative director.

She runs an online website called www.ethnicky.com with a friend which is about interior decorating in African fabrics and 6 months after the launh of the site they were invited by the Mayor of london’s office to makeover his offices to mark AFRICA DAY.
She is curretly the PR manager for River Island retailers ltd which is a fashion brand in the uk with over 200 stores in the UK.

We are quite excited about getting some Styling tips from London’s most wanted…So lets get straight into it.

FashionAfrica.com: What is the first impression you see in a person that goes on to influence your work on him/her?

Arieta: PERSONALITY… I’d rather work with someone who is fun and up for anything than a moody person. I can’t be arsed with moodiness, we don’t save lives in our job so take a chill pill…

FA: Looking back would you say it all started as a kid or did the knack for styling come later in life?

A: It definitely started as a kid, growing up, we didn’t have much and I had to wear hand me downs sometimes. So the onus on me was to make the clothes cool, well at least make my friends think they were. This continued into my teens and early twenties. I am a firm believer that fashionistas are born not made!

FA: In three words, what would your style be?

A: Fierce, Feroucious, tomboy!

FA: Academic achievements …high school, college (any awards)?

A: A degree in Business Law, a HND in Business and Marketing…and MOST BEAUTIFUL baby in Brighton and Hove, 1979 (I kid u not!!).

FA: Most people who are in different fields of fashion didn’t always get a positive approval from their families. How did your family take your decision?

A: My parents died when I was younger so they didn’t get to see me embark on my career path. My mum always encouraged my creative side but my dad didn’t want to hear it. If my mum had her way I would have been an actress as I was obsessed with FAME the TV series as a child and my mum wanted me to go to La Guardia high. Dad was like HELL NO!! My siblings are quite creative too so they have always been supportive. My aunties and uncles too (especially BABA APOLLO and Aunty flo) have supported everything I have done and with my career choice now, at first they didn’t understand but encouraged me any way.

FA: Grande! Sorry about the loss of your parents, but it’s a good thing you still have a strong family support system.

FA: Having worked with various fashion-related organizations from Gap to magazine companies, how has all that contributed to your eclectic and very creative style?

A: Being around every aspect of fashion from sketching the designs, sourcing the fabrics, dealing with suppliers, working with clothing standard agencies, pulling together looks and indeed styling outfits have given me a deep respect for fashion. So when you respect something, it definitely impacts your life and in this case, yes it has.

FA: Your clientele; who do you enjoy styling most…the girly girls or sexy tomboys?

A: BOTH

FA: Yeah, which celebrity did you style first?

A: A boy band in the UK called TRIPLE8. It was for TOP OF THE POPS in 1999, I was an assistant on that shoot and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

FA: Did it feel surreal or you were used to the industry already?

A: Na, it feels as surreal now as it did then. I’m a shit kid from Lagos, so this is all still amazing to me. I try not to show it thou, shades on and all.

FA: Which other celebrities have gotten your touch?

A: Solange, Lily Allen, Keri Hilson, OLUCHI, Alek wek, Liya Kedebe, Tyson Beckford and Kelly Rowland.

FA: Being an African woman in the industry, does that give you some drive at all?

A: Of course, to work harder and longer than my peers.

FA: What the best thing about styling a person?

A: Getting to know them. I am a people person, love meeting new peeps.

FA: I guess that’s why you got to become the PR manager for River Island…huge! How has that been?

A: Its amazing, I also am the face of RIVERTV, which is a fashion channel, I get to go to most of all the fashion shows to blog (went to NYC, LONDON and PARIS fashion week this year) which is great. I get to meet so many fabulous people who have inspired me. River Island is a very family orientated organization and they encourage and nurture talent so I also get involved with the window schemes too. Which is awesome.

FA: With such demanding jobs, how do you stay focused and balanced as a human being?

A: My family keeps me sane. I also have an amazing boss who is the doyenne of high street PR in the UK Sarah Walter who is just the most supportive person ever. I also have a few good friends too who totally get me, they have known me for ages and tell me off when I throw my toys out of the pram.

FA: The best advice you got as a “stylista”?

A: Find what works for you and stick with it. You might love fashion but does fashion love you? That’s the question.

FA: Fashionistas-who gets your five-star?

A: Grace Jones.. need I say more…

Findout more about Arieta on www.styleinsider.riverisland.com

- Ernest Nwangwu for FashionAfrica.com

Northern Nigeria: Fulani Goat herders.Courtesy nubiangal.blogspot.com