In July, Verushka Pather, a businesswoman and Indo-African fashion designer from Ballito in Durban, designed a special collection for the Oberoi Beach Resort's concept store in Mauritius. Five months later, the 46-year-old mother of four and Bharata Natyam exponent, opened Khanya Designs at Royal Road in Grand Baie.
The store opening, said Pather, now truly promoted conscious fashion and acknowledged ancestral cultures and the people of the African continent
Among the guests were Anishta Babooram, the Mauritian Minister for Gender Equality, Hemlatha Gondeea, the wife of the Minister of Arts and Culture, and influencers from the island.
"Once we had seen the progress and that the island loved the designs, the selling of the African continent, and the weave of our land, we decided it was best to open our own store and share it with the everyday lady, who would love to wear Khanya Designs," said Pather on her return to South Africa.
She added that it was no longer in their interest to have the stores at the Tribeca and Bagatelle malls and that Grand Baie served as the perfect location that offered a relaxed mood and easy access to the African Experience.
"Khanya Designs is now accessible to everyone. You don't need to be on a bus route or get off at one of the malls, which are only meant for high end clients. We currently have about 20 designs at the store. These range from formal jackets, rider coats and trench coats to the long relaxed kaftans, umbrella skirts, hot pants, bomber jackets, Capri pants as well as halter neck dresses. In addition, we have a range of Armani satin that lends itself to the beautiful island style. With our range, you can dress it up in the evening or wear it in the day.“
She said she did not choose to open a store in Mauritius.
"The island perfectly chose us," she explained.
Pather said her vision was to bring people of the African continent together - from Reunion, Mauritius, South Africa and the Seychelles.
"One way of merging our communities is by the weave of our land. We have so many common fabrics as well as common interests on Indian indenture, ancestral cultures, and our religions. It's one beautiful way via the narrative of conscious fashion to share this history.
"Khanya Designs, however, remains proudly South African. We are proudly wearing the badge of being proudly South African as well as sharing a glimpse of South Africa with the rest of the world."
Through her designs, Pather said she wanted to not only make a statement, but to transform lives and change the way women perceived themselves.
Pather recently preserved fashion - and a legacy of love - when she transformed high-end women's dresses into men's shirts for South African businessman Pat Mkhize following his wife's death.