UK BASED INTERANATIONAL BESPOKE LIFESTYLE AND FASHION BRAND - PATRICK JOSEPH SET TO LAUNCH IN SOUTH AFRICA
Patrick Joseph is an International bespoke lifestyle and fashion brand based in the UK, Founded by Kwa-zulu Natal born Fashion Designer - Patrick Mhlanga. This past Sunday afternoon, Patrick announced on an interview with yours truly that he's set to debut in South Africa with a collection of bespoke casual and street wear fashion line.
The Patrick Joseph brand, known for its flexibility and agility in catering to both men and women's ready to wear fashion pieces, launched in 2011 after Mhlanga turned his passion for design and tailoring into a bespoke clothing line which later hit various runways including the London fashion week in 2019.
Romley: Why Patrick Joseph, how did the name came about?
Mhlanga served time in the British Army and studied MSc in Business Management before breaking into fashion. He has become one of the most influential emerging fashion designer's in Great Britain with Patrick Joseph featuring in major fashion magazines including Drapers and Fab magazine UK.
" I am so proud to see Patrick Joseph evolve from basic t-shirts, suits and ties for some of our founding clients and featuring at the Mr. England competition. I'm even more excited to be launching soon in South Africa with more than just a tailored suits but a spring/summer collection of bespoke casual and street wear line." says Fashion Designer and Founder Patrick Joseph
Interview with Patrick
Patrick: I wanted a name that will resonate with my market here in London, and as a Christian who grew-up in the catholic church I was named Joseph after my baptism. So Patrick Joseph is a combination of both my birth name and my baptism name.
Romley: What inspired you to get into the fashion industry?
Patrick: My passion for craftsmanship and design was inspired by my Grandfather who wore tailored suits 6 days a week - this sparked an interest in experimenting with sewing equipment and creating patterns from variety of fabrics.
Romley: How was the experience of dressing the contestants for Mr. England Competition?
Patrick: It was a great opportunity that opened many doors for me in the UK Fashion Space, I was selected to create a Tailored Suit for the competition's winner as part of prize package and also dress the contestants for their final formal look.
Romley: What makes Patrick Joseph's ready to wear line distinct from other designer's collections?
Patrick: My bespoke casual and street wear are inspired by nature, it is a mixture of bright colors that draws from the daylight of the sun to shining light of the moon in the evenings.
Romley: Patrick Joseph main focus was corporate wear and bespoke tailored suits, how did the venture into ready to wear came about?
Patrick: When Covid-19 Pandemic hit the world everything changed, almost everything went digital. Even the market changed too, a lot of my clients started working from home which lead them to start seeking more comfortable casual wear that resonate with their style. I partnered with ASOS Fashion, an online fashion store that launched my first ready to wear collections.
Romley: Future Plans?
Patrick: I was suppose to be travelling to South Africa, but due to the new wave and lockdown I have to postpone. I'm looking forward to launching the Spring/Summer collection in SA and even be able to showcase at the SA Fashion Week. This collection is for the party people that love to dress smart when they go out for evening parties and looking cool when they hit the streets during the day.
Romley: What is the message behind the new casual and street wear line that you are planning to debut in South Africa?
Patrick: The expansion into South Africa aims to give back to my home country through my talent, skills and network and create something special for the locals.
Romley: Favorite Fashion Icon?
Patrick: Virgil Abloh, his passing left me in shock. I had wished to work with him. R.I.P.
I also draw a lot of inspiration from Karl Otto Lagerfeld.
Patrick Joseph prides itself in handmade garments created from a unique mix of British and Italian sourced materials. Ready to wear pieces are available for purchase at various department stores in the UK including TK Maxx and NEXT as well online at https://patrick-joseph.com/