Celebrating cultural heritage through fashion

By Dumisanai Hlatswayo

PHEELLO MAHLOKO is a selfdriven entrepreneur hailing from Botshabelo, a township in the Free State. He began his career as a Business Developer working for FMCG multinationals, honing his skills in marketing and strategy. He then transitioned to the digital marketing space, where he has been working in senior positions as a strategist. “My ambition and expertise have propelled me to success in my professional career, and I bring that same drive and skill to my entrepreneurial ventures. As the founder of Moetlo, I’m dedicated to promoting and celebrating my cultural heritage through fashion and other ventures,” he told The Olifants News.

The experience Pheello gained from promoting brands made it easier for him to launch his own clothing line, Moetlo, which is a Sotho word for tradition and culture. He said his brand is driven by a desire to educate our generation about the often-overlooked elements of our culture. “Through fashion, we aim to promote our cultural heritage in modern and innovative ways, while also fostering cross-cultural discussions.

Our ultimate goal is to use our platform to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and spark meaningful conversations that lead to greater understanding and appreciation of one another’s cultures,” he said.

But his journey to bring his vision to life was not without its hurdles. One of the most significant obstacles Pheello encountered was taking the initial step towards realising his goals.

“The prospect of starting something new can be intimidating, and we had to overcome doubts and fears to begin.

In addition, we faced a challenge with funding, as we needed an initial cash injection to create the first prototype. However, we remained determined to see our vision through and worked tirelessly to secure the resources necessary to bring our ideas to fruition,” Pheello said. His newest Premium shoe collection, Neo, pays homage to an indigenous plant found only in Lesotho, the kharetsa. He explained: “These premium unique sneakers are available for pre-order only and can be viewed at our store for those who want to get a feel of the shoe. But that’s not all, we are also working on our first-ever locally produced shoe range, which will be fully produced in Thembisa by locals, for locals and the world.”

Those who want to buy Moetlo can find the brand at KasiColab, at the Mall of Thembisa, opposite Roman’s Pizza. For your convenience, Moetlo products are also available for purchase online at www.moetlo. co.za. Alternatively, you can contact Moetlo through various social media channels, including Facebook at @ moetloapparel and Instagram at @ moetloapparel_za, or reach out to them directly via WhatsApp or phone call at 0685220838.