The fashion industry has always been about high stakes.
A brand is forced to evolve with each changing season and every passing year, or they run the risk of being forgotten.
This takes raw creativity to pull off and the enterprising spirit of stylists and designers is valuable to the cause.
We don’t often highlight people from this silo of the arts as rising stars as it isn’t as easy to do as being a recording artist or DJ who is bubbling under.
Imagine our delight when we encountered one last week at a Castle Lite NBA BAL cocktail party in Sandton. On a rooftop 20 storeys high the lights of the city serve as a backdrop to an intimate soiree to celebrate this well received basketball tournament. Morda was on hand to provide much-needed rhythmic relief as local and international ball players mill about, rubbing shoulders with a couple of local celebrities like Bontle Modiselle and her husband, rapper, Priddy Ugly.
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We couldn’t help but notice a woman in all grey who swaggers into that party wearing an outfit that was both edgy and elegant. The aesthetic was both savage and suave.
The young woman says her name is Odirile Tlhoaele or Odi for short but the streets and in due time runways know her as The Savage Stylist. Odi came all the way from The Vaal for this event and despite being let down by her plus one on the night, this setting is the perfect place for her to network.
Savage style
Odi says she designed every aspect of what she was wearing, a dress that has a double-breasted jacket design in the front and her boots were made out of the same fabric as the clothing, an all-grey tone and shimmering jewellery along her neckline.
“I didn’t study fashion design. I just really loved fashion and I hadn’t even planned to be a designer. Fashion designing found me,” Odi reveals.
In just four years of being in the industry, she has managed to style some noteworthy individuals and based on what she is wearing, it is easy to see how her passion might be well tailored to this field.
Odi says she has dressed the likes of Akon, for one of his music videos, she handled what Busiswa wore at a few of her events and performances as well as Nomcebo Zikode whom she styled for a music video of hers and Odi has even established some corporate connections by styling the clothes worn for a Bidvest end of year function.
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“Mostly Pinterest and Instagram from international brands and then I turn that inspiration into savage designs,” she says shedding light on how she goes about both styling and creating her designs.
“I am always creating styling folders as inspiration every time I'm on Pinterest and Instagram. So, whenever a client calls me, I go back to my folders to see which folder will create a spark for me. Then I take those inspirations and turn them into an original design. I can be inspired by three pictures, but I’ll turn those three designs into one," the bubbly fashion guru intimates.
She has a host of designers and fashionistas she admires like Calechie, “He makes upcycling fashion. He turns your normal day-to-day clothes into something new and exciting. Frisk Me Good, she turns sneakers into clothes. My award-winning outfit was inspired by her designs. Kollin Carter is another, he styles Cardi B for music videos and then Marni who styles Beyonce for main performances and PR shoots.”
Odi’s fascination and passion paid off last year when she won the Basadi In Music Award for Stylist of the Year.
Accolades do assist an artist in being more highly regarded and having prices that are commensurate with that but in Cyril’s economy, everybody is looking for things on the cheap.
“Being an award-winning stylist and a celebrity stylist, you would think people would respect your rate. Clients still look for discounts and tell me I’m too expensive. But I’ve earned my stripes and when I say this is my rate, it should be respected and not challenged, otherwise, what’s the point of calling myself an award-winning stylist or celebrity stylist?
I want to leave a legacy and not just be a fashion designer and stylist. So, this year I’ll be creating a fashion brand that the everyday customer can purchase. TheSavageStylist is the name. You can find my custom-made designs for clients on my Instagram page."
