Rebecca MacFarlane
This weekend, I had the great pleasure of meeting with and speaking to Marc Percy- one of South Africas fastest growing Fashionistas.
I went into the coffee session expecting to get to know a little more about him and the Fashion Industry in South Africa. But I left with so much more. His story has truly inspired me- and I am so excited to share this inspiration with you.
Growing up in the Township of Umlazi, Durban, Marc Percy knew from a very young age that his biggest passion in life was Fashion. I laugh as he tells me his favourite past time was stealing his sisters Barbie dolls and making new- more stylish- clothes for them.
Sadly, as many people out there experience, his dreams were met with little to no support from those around him, who viewed Fashion as a flimsy industry fit only for women. He was expected to fit into the mould and go into an industry viewed as creditable. Being a creative, this frustrated him greatly, and he began to be recognised as somewhat of a Black Sheep. Something I feel many of us can relate to on a very personal level.
“Don’t be afraid of failing”. This is a theme that popped up consistently throughout our conversation. Marc is no stranger to failures and setbacks. He tells me of the lowest point in his journey. Forced to take Accounting in high school- this led to him failing his Matric. The shame and embarrassment he faced as a result pushed him almost over the edge. He recounts a horrible battle with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Finding himself labelled a high school drop out with no ambition, he was faced with a decision. To give up, or to carry on chasing his dream against all of the odds.
In spite of these setbacks, Percy chose to chase his dream. He pushed through to successfully complete his matric, after which he began secretly attending Linea Academy of Fashion where he found he excelled. His talent was recognised in 2009 and he began styling people. He styled many weddings, and in 2010 more people began noticing him through photos of his work.
Thus began his journey with the famous National Brand Hilton Weiner. Beginning as a stylist, he was quickly promoted to Visual Merchandiser and took on the grooming of people within the company- teaching them about building a brand.“Everyone is their own brand.” He says, and begins to speak passionately about the importance of finding your own identity within the fashion industry. Growing through what he learned from Hilton Weiner about fashion and retail, he began to find his own unique brand. He did not simply desire to follow trends, but to teach people that each of them are their own trend setter and should strive to be unique.
It was around this time that he was approached by C Squared, and he found the opportunity to build his own unique style of suits. Stepping out of all comfort zones, he brought the world of brightly coloured suits to Durban, and slowly to the rest of SA. His signature bright colours that he is so fondly known for began to become the new trend in SA.
“I was never afraid of rocking the bright pink shirt with my suit.” He says, laughing. And indeed he never was. His colorful brand of fashion certainly is a breath of fresh air around a city that was still used to the grays and blacks of yesteryear.
He has since been recognized and approached by many famous people and brands who are just desperate to get their own taste of his colorful fashion.
Celebrities he has styled have includes Zakes Bantwini, D’Banj and Flavour N’abania. As well as this, he has worked with many of our favourite Sharkies such as Sbura Sithole, Odwa Ndungane and Lwazi Mvovo.
Of course. How could anyone not want his advice on how to dress when they see just how stylish and slick he looks? If you also want in on it- Gagazi FM also hosts him on Thursdays for fashion discussions including hot trends and advice on styling.
I asked him what he felt was the biggest challenge that faced him in the fashion industry in South Africa.
“The Fashion Industry in South Africa is difficult. It is full of politics and ego.”
He goes on to explain how he wishes everyone in the industry could work together to build and strengthen Fashion as its own, unique industry in South Africa. So often we look to other countries like Italy for our fashion identity, and strive to reproduce what they create.
Sure, International Fashion is a vital part of the Industry. But we have so much opportunity here to develop our own identity and find our own place in the industry internationally. South African Designers should be working to bring in this uniquely South African Fashion Identity and build brands that have a style and quality South African consumers can really love and trust.
Here in a country so rich with colours, patterns and fabrics, we have so much unique opportunity to really create something beautiful that can express a South African identity through the fashion we put on our bodies. I can see how inspired he is about this vision of a proudly South African brand of Fashion.
“I want people to be better than me in the future. I want to be able to create a movement where it just keeps on growing and getting better.”
Marc Percy speaks about his dream of creating his own Young Designer program, in which he can work with the creative youth to build their own brands and identities in the Fashion industry.
“I don’t want to only work with people who have already been established as brands. I want to give a voice to the younger people who haven’t yet had that opportunity. They are our future”
This truly fills me with the sense of someone who wants his own flame to light the candles of others. The inspiration is truly contagious.
Indeed, Marc Percy has many exciting things in store. He is currently working on opening a studio unique to his brand, which should see its official grand opening before the end of 2017. I look forward to being there at the opening, and seeing first hand his vision of his own unique brand of fashion come to life fully. I just know it is going to take the South African Fashion Industry by storm.
