Ruberto Scholtz on Creating Couture and Inspiring Confidence

If, like me, you have followed this young fashion designer’s journey from the very beginning, you’d know that his current popularity was a long time coming. Ruberto Scholtz, one of Namibian pop culture’s greatest, is still growing and is in fact destined for even bigger things.

Starting out as a College of The Arts student some years back, Ruberto’s final year collections catapulted him into the limelight. Pieces from the Venom collection would later be worn by Namibian celebs like Pombili Shilongo and Tjuna Kauapirura. The Venom fashion domination culminated in South African TV Star Bonang Matheba wearing one of the gowns at the 2018 Namibia Annual Music Awards.

Today, Ruberto is by far one of the most sought-after couture designers, well-known for his extravagant bridal and evening gowns. And these days, whenever Ruberto dresses a bride, or a student for a Matric farewell dance, he literally breaks the internet.

I caught up with this bright talent to talk fashion, about what inspires him and why he loves what he does.

What drew you to making couture dresses as opposed to other areas of fashion design?

The craft behind couture dresses has always fascinated me. The details of a dress, the fabric and the utter confidence it gives the lady who wears it are my motivating factors. It’s challenging, but I love it. All in all, just the glamour of it all.

What’s your favourite part of the designing process?

I love it all, there is actually no favourite part, but if I have to choose one it would have to be sourcing the right material and bringing the vision to life.

What motivates you to be a better designer every day?

I’m just motivated to do better than the day before. Every dress is a chance to better myself.

couture

noun - the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client’s specific requirements and measurements.

Look around you. Everything changes. everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing, and changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant.

- Dr Steve Mataboli

Where do you envision your brand to be in five years?

Life is too short to live for the next five to ten years. I live for the next moment, who knows where that will take me next.

Describe your most memorable fashion moment as a fashion designer.

Apart from dressing Bonang Matheba, and meeting big industry names, there are just too many moments and most of these involve the lovely clients that I dress. I would like to share a quote by Dr Steve Mataboli that I live by, and which is so true in every aspect of my life: “Look around you. Everything changes. Everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing, and changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant.”

To keep up with this talented young fashion star’s journey, follow him on Instagram @sholtzruberto.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant, and fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni.

Photos by Azo Photography, AM Photography and Ruberto Scholtz