A designer of note
Joyce Lafika is a multi-disciplinary designer, specialising in graphic, fashion and textile design.
She is also a fashion show producer, radio presenter and voiceover artist.
She is also the national coordinator of Waka Moo, which is Namibia's first puppet and cartoon show and chieftess of The Clan, a proudly Namibian clothing and lifestyle brand. Having been the brain behind some of the biggest fashion shows in the country, tjil caught up with her, and this is what she had to share about her love for designing.
tjil (t): When did you fall in love with designing and the fashion world?
Joyce Lafika (JL): I was fascinated by the art of design from a young age. I always liked stuff that looked nice, like interior and pieces of clothing. So I was actually stuck between interior design and fashion. I ended up choosing fashion because my grandmother was very good with her hands, so that is where my main inspiration came from. She used to make clothes and I would learn from her.
t: Tell us more about The Clan, how did it come about?
JL: The Clan was started by me and my then business partner; he is an architect, I am a fashion designer, so we wanted a brand that brings multiple design disciplines together - him being an architect and me being a fashion designer. All design disciplines blend with each other. I was also very interested about where we come from, our ancestors, and all of that, so that is how the name came about.
t: You are big on collaborations, why do you value this so much?
JL: You can't say that you have enough knowledge, even in your field, so I believe in collaborating with others, because you are always learning something different and new from someone else, even though you might have or know different techniques compared to the other person.
It brings a sense of unity, as well, and that contributes to the growth of the industry.
t: You are a multi-disciplinary designer. What is the importance of tapping into different avenues of the industry?
JL: It is good to explore what you can do; the world is your oyster. Radio was a hobby for me, but then I fell in love with it. On the creative scene, it is also not easy to find a job in this industry, so you have to expand your skillset the best way you can.
MICHAEL KAYUNDE
She is also a fashion show producer, radio presenter and voiceover artist.
She is also the national coordinator of Waka Moo, which is Namibia's first puppet and cartoon show and chieftess of The Clan, a proudly Namibian clothing and lifestyle brand. Having been the brain behind some of the biggest fashion shows in the country, tjil caught up with her, and this is what she had to share about her love for designing.
tjil (t): When did you fall in love with designing and the fashion world?
Joyce Lafika (JL): I was fascinated by the art of design from a young age. I always liked stuff that looked nice, like interior and pieces of clothing. So I was actually stuck between interior design and fashion. I ended up choosing fashion because my grandmother was very good with her hands, so that is where my main inspiration came from. She used to make clothes and I would learn from her.
t: Tell us more about The Clan, how did it come about?
JL: The Clan was started by me and my then business partner; he is an architect, I am a fashion designer, so we wanted a brand that brings multiple design disciplines together - him being an architect and me being a fashion designer. All design disciplines blend with each other. I was also very interested about where we come from, our ancestors, and all of that, so that is how the name came about.
t: You are big on collaborations, why do you value this so much?
JL: You can't say that you have enough knowledge, even in your field, so I believe in collaborating with others, because you are always learning something different and new from someone else, even though you might have or know different techniques compared to the other person.
It brings a sense of unity, as well, and that contributes to the growth of the industry.
t: You are a multi-disciplinary designer. What is the importance of tapping into different avenues of the industry?
JL: It is good to explore what you can do; the world is your oyster. Radio was a hobby for me, but then I fell in love with it. On the creative scene, it is also not easy to find a job in this industry, so you have to expand your skillset the best way you can.
MICHAEL KAYUNDE
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Namibian Sun
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