Designer Mzukisi Mbane of the brand Imprint has bagged one of the biggest deals of all time. The first ever KFC Africa concept store was recently launched in the heart of student-ville, in Braamfontein and Mzukisi was chosen as the fashion designer to design a capsule for the brand which has been in the country for more than 50 years. 

WINNING!

Mzukisi from Khayelitsha in Cape Town told ZiMoja that designing the limited-edition range for such a big brand is a dream come true. "This collaboration means a lot to me. It speaks to how much my brand has grown; it speaks to the potential of what I'm still going to do in the industry," he says. "And also, more than anything, it gives me the financial support and visibility that South African brands need to be able to elevate and move to the next stage."

TRUE TO STYLE

While many designers might feel the need to change their style when they bag a big deal, Mzukisi says he has remained true to himself and his brand. "The beauty of it all was that I didn't have to change anything about my design style or how expensive my brand is," he says. "There is such a perfect synergy between both brands. KFC stands for the same bold, innovative, and fun expression that Imprint stands for. And they fully embrace how my brand celebrates our African heritage and identity."

THE GARMENTS

The collection includes a select few items. "It's a capsule collection, so we really didn't want to create too many pieces," he says. "But we made sure we have all the basics, like the socks, bags, T-shirts, jackets, hoodies and more. This also allows the consumer to always find something that they can buy as an add-on to their existing wardrobe and also always find something that works for any budget."