Young designer sketches her way to the top
Flair for fashion … Talented young designer Eleanor Bohloko is taking on the world of fashion one step at a time.
Giving up is not an option for local fashion designer Eleanor Bohloko.
Although the industry can prove “an uphill battle for recognition in the province”, this talented designer from Cava Creations did not blink when taking on another project – House of Eleanor.
The academy for aspirant designers and models was established in 2009 and has grown from strength to strength since.
“House of Eleanor is a 13-year-old dream. I discovered that people loved my drawings and at first I used to sell them for R20. So it is through selling my sketches that I received recognition and a platform.”
According to Bohloko, buying her first sewing machine at the age of 13 was “the first step to recovery as sketching had become an addiction”.
“Me and fashion designing have a love-hate relationship! It tortures me. Sometimes the calling will wake me up at three in the morning in winter to start sketching.”
Currently working from home, Bohloko studied a marketing course through Unisa before pursuing a fashion design course with the Central University of Technology.
She hopes to turn House of Eleanor, which also acts as a modelling agency, into a fully-fledged fashion school with the help of investors.
“House of Eleanor is also a fashion house creating garments. We are a learning hub for struggling young designers who cannot afford schooling, giving them the platform to express themselves.
“We teach these students what the industry is like, not so much what to do in the industry. That way we give them the opportunity to decide for themselves if the fashion industry is what they really want.”
Bohloko said she believes fashion is something that comes naturally to her character. Whether she has found a boyfriend, or is sad – it all ends up becoming a dress.
“My designs are very character-driven. I hate being serious. I love to make people feel good about themselves.”
According to Bohloko, getting support from the government is one of the challenges that young designers and House of
Eleanor face.
“Me and fashion designing have a love-hate relationship! It tortures me. Sometimes the calling will wake me up at three in the morning in winter to start sketching.”
“With all the effort that is put into making a fashion show come together successfully or putting a garment together, the fashion industry is not all glitz and glam.
“Fashion being an art, we designers feel that our government is not supporting us enough. We do not get their support. As artists we also want to be recognised but how do we get there if our government is not helping us?”
However, Bohloko added that House of Eleanor is there to uplift struggling designers and advance them, no matter what the cost.
Regarding the modelling agency side of House of Eleanor, she said it is just a matter of approaching a girl.
“I say ‘Hi, you look like you could be a model’. From there you enter them into competitions, such as Miss Teen SA.”
One of House of Eleanor’s most recent achievements was the Diamonds in The Ruff winner, Thembakazi Mazaleni.
“I am so proud of Thembi. I remember spotting her in her All Star sneakers and I said to myself, ‘She has the model effect’. I went up to her and said, ‘Girl, if you don’t see it, I see it’. She entered the competition and look at her now.”
Bohloko does not, however, want to be regarded as an agent for models. She believes it is just about being at the right place at the right time.
“I do not regard myself as an agent. I always tell my girls that they are their own agents. My duty is to help them with how to enter a competition and do photo shoots. Basically, I help them discover themselves to realise their dreams. After all, we don’t come from the best backgrounds as people.
“At the end of the day I tell them ‘I’m just a little name from the Free State’ to let them know that I will always be behind them and I am there to help them establish themselves.”
Art of design … Garments created by Eleanor Bohloko
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