Bonny M | March 18, 2025
Rep Lepara exist to celebrate individuality and uniqueness; expressed in the brands distinct design approach, fine tailoring and the quality of the thread that weaves their stories, of who they are as a brand. Propelled by a relentless spirit to continue innovating and pushing the envelope on design in South Africa and for the world.
Rep Lepara is a brand name that seeks to represent the wisdom we have for our street style design philosophy, said founder. “Rep” is an abbreviation of Representative and “Lepara” is a Pedi word that translates to wisdom. In slang the word also translates to “a well groomed individual”.
The Rep Lepara brand’s soul is made of denim and suited in style. One of their signature detail is the making of pants and skirts without belt loops to emphasize the idea that you don’t need to wear a belt on a bespoke piece and they are very intentional with that detail.
Our story began in 2017 when I came to the Maboneng Precinct that I got to be exposed to a vibrant community of creatives and artists from multiple facets of art, music and fashion, said founder.
At that time I was on a path of self discovery having just graduated with my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Vaal University of Technology. Unemployment was the reality I was facing; and in that awareness of the state, I had to hustle to stay afloat.
Luckily, when I was still studying in varsity I had started a side hustle of collecting designer hats and reselling them. So, I started to participate in the weekend arts Market to sell my hats Collections. Little did I know that it would later develop into a brand, founder added.
From selling designer hats, they swiftly transitioned to designing t-shirts, pants, and cultural dresses. By 2019, they began creating bespoke suits, and today, they have grown into an established fashion house with five collections under their belt, the most recent being“Dikota slash Chic” Spring/Summer Collection 2024/2025, exhibited at Soweto Fashion Week.
As a brand founded on the vibrant streets of Maboneng, Johannesburg, their aesthetic is deeply influenced by the city’s culture, architecture, and the dynamic street fashion scene. These diverse inspirations have significantly shaped their designs over the years.
Functionality, minimalism, style, and uniqueness these four elements are at the core of every Rep Lepara creation. They design for a niche, sophisticated clientele who seek to make subtle fashion statements without the noise. Their pieces embody a sense of stealth, where the true obsession lies in the details and the craftsmanship behind every design.
Can you tell us about the Mapungubwe Collection and the inspiration behind it?
The Mapungubwe fall/winter Collection 2024 was a body of work inspired by a revisit of an African Kingdom forgotten by time. I came across multiple learning materials that spoke of this first South African gold kingdom that once existed between the border of Limpopo, South Africa and Zimbabwe. And that was evident from its archaeologically discovered gold and various precious metal remains,that were found in the area. Curating the collection titled “Mapungubwe” was an attempt to spark awareness of this once upon; African gold city forgotten by time.
How does the Mapungubwe Collection align with the overall vision of Rep Lepara?
I believe as a designer; part of my responsibility is to tell stories for every collection I curate, the starting point is always of a distinct story that I resonate with and that largely influences the inception and making of the collections I eventually showcase.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the fashion industry, and how have you overcome them?
The challenge faced was of the industry’s gatekeepers on trying to underrate the brand, but because of access to social media and delivering quality service as part of our commitment. We have managed to build our like minded community outside traditional mainstream media.
What future plans or upcoming projects can we expect from Rep Lepara?
Our vision is to continue to grow, curate stories and make fashion statements that speak to who we are as a local South African brand, for the world.
Fashion enthusiasts and potential customers can connect with us through the following channels:
Our online store can be found on Google search “replepara.com” and we are currently based at Market Up, in Maboneng Johannesburg. On the socials it’s @replepara on Instagram and “Rep Lepara” on Facebook.