meet anisa, tanzania's top flight designer

Anisa Ami Mpungwe

Born in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, to diplomats, Anisa was a child of the fine arts. In her early years, armed with crayons and colour pencils her mother's walls became her canvas.

This free spirited young girl didn't wear shoes, played with local boys in the dust and won bicycle races. From a young age she learnt to march to the beat of her own drum and embrace creativity and individuality; an odd outcome for a child growing up in a religious and conservative society.

Anisa moved to South Africa in 1994 when her father was appointed as the Ambassador to South Africa. The move was a huge culture shock. For the first time she attended school with many white students. She attended St Mary's Diocesan School for Girls in Pretoria from Grade 5 until Grade 12 (Matric).

It was in high school that Anisa's passion for design was solidified. Her close friends from school attest to Anisa working on portfolios and designing gowns for Matric dances and Debutante Balls as early as grade 10. By her Matric year, she was well known as St Mary's resident designer and her fellow students were clamouring for her "couture" designs.

She matriculated in 2002 and started her tertiary studies at Midrand Graduate Institute. During her studies she changed her course from Graphics to a better suited BA in Fashion and Marketing.

This proved to be significant choice in her life. Her love for fashion and all its creative elements was solidified and for the first time she was galvanised to pursue a serious career in fashion.

".My biggest wish is to have my name in an International Fashion text book, so that my grandkids and their friends could see that it is okay to follow a belief and for my country to be proud of me ..."

Anisa completed her 3rd year with top marks; a significant moment for her family as she was the second tertiary graduate in from her father's side of the family.

After graduating, her previously part time work immediately became full time. She freelanced for prominent South Africa designers gaining experience. Always eager to continue developing her creative skills, she applied to study abroad.

In 2007 she specialised in Creative Pattern Construction at the prestigious London College of Fashion, a prestigious fashion school in the United Kingdom.
London proved to be one of her biggest inspirations to date.

The exposure to street culture, vintage shops, bleached hair and the English saying 'init' at the end of each sentence, left her hopelessly enslaved to the ideal of being an individual and challenged her to push her boundaries of originality.

Inspired and refreshed, she returned to South Africa in 2008 with a PG certificated in Creative Pattern Cutting for the Industry and immediately started working as a junior designer at a leading South African Fashion House. The experience was invaluable and her newly acquired skills pushed her to fulfil her ambition of launching her own label.

In April 2008, Loin Cloth & Ashes, a ready-to-wear label was born. In August 2008 Anisa entered the ELLE new talent competition, a national competition attracting young design talent from around South Africa.

Anisa's fresh, unique and meticulously presented garments won her the coveted prize of "Young designer of the year". Anisa is privileged to have the support of her family, who have always believed in her and encouraged her to achieve her dream.

April 2009, she showed her second range at Spring/Summer Sanlam SA Fashion Week. The collection, "Metropolis", depicted the challenges we face today, in rigid, hard lines and stiff silhouettes mixed with brights and warm hues. Still remaining youthful, models wore drummer boy hats and origami inspired gloves.

In May 2009, Anisa's first range with Mr Price, part of the “Project” collection, was distributed in selected stores, nationwide. In August 2009 she showed at Sweden Fashion Week, which provided valuable exposure to global fashion trends.

The Loin Cloth & Ashes 2010 winter collection “Midnight” was launched in September 2009 at SA Sanlam Fashion Week. The collection was well received and the positive reviews earmarked Anisa as an exciting and promising young designer. In December 2009, she was invited to show at Mozambique Fashion Week and will soon be distributing there.

There are many factors influencing Anisa’s work. Her designs have a quirky and childlike element which is tempered by a deep respect for precision and impeccable workmanship. Anisa’s garments are known for their faultless finishing and unexpected details.

Her approach is very structured but never predicable. Anisa infuses her designs with mystery and imagination and usually leaves hidden symbols on her garments representing her parents and two sisters.

Originality, romance, independence and perfection – fundamental aspects of her personality - are conveyed through the use of origami, refined lines, extraordinary embellishments, and impeccable artistry.
Anisa currently resides and runs her studio in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. She stocks ready-to-wear and made-to-order garments. As part of collaboration with three South Africa designers, Anisa will be opening a showroom in 44 Stanley, Milpark, Johannesburg, in March 2010.


Website: www.loinclothandashes.com