Designer Ephraim Molingoana’s Ephymol Latest Designs Divides South Africans

Designer Ephraim Molingoana’s, Ephymol Latest Designs Divides South African after the accomplished designer who debuted at the 2002 fashion week and has strings of accolades ranging from  SA Fashion Week Cape Wools SA Designer Challenge in 2017 to several GQ Best Dressed awards showcased his latest work that some have likened to Maxhosa.

Whilst Maxhosa founder Laduma Laduma Ngxokolo has not publicly addressed some of these sentiments some people took to social media to highlights their displeasure.

Prominent entrepreneurship advocate, Siyanda Calvin Ntenga did not mince his words in a social media post that read “When I first saw these pictures I assumed Laduma of the popular MaXhosa brand released a new range, got a shock when I realized it’s another brand. Come on guys! Let’s stop this thing of copy and paste, people work hard to build their brands for you to come and copy them. Start your own thing we will support you, not ukudla amandla abantu .”

Other uses did not agree citing that this is healthy completition with comment ranging from “But at the same time we shouldn’t be emotional about it, competition is competion. Coke and Pepsi existed at once and they both made wonders regardless how the Taste was similar. Kingsley and Refresher both exists and they both have Market share”

“Bt the pie is big enough for everyone to have a slice sekuyoshiyana ngequality”

Others were not as sympathetic with comments reading “its actually very disappointing especially coming from seasoned designer like Ephraim, he literally did a copy and paste. Yes there will be trends in the fashion industry but you will never see an established brand like an LV using a burberry print. Even if he can win iit in court on technicalities but this is not something he can be proud of”

“Hayi guyzini, this is too close to Ladumas brand, I understand competition is good however I do t see any new creative thinking here, no original concept whatsoever in my view “

“Hayi guyzini, this is too close to Ladumas brand, I understand competition is good however I do t see any new creative thinking here, no original concept whatsoever in my view “

“Lemboni isazokumangaza chief kusakuncane lokhu, we see this everyday. More especially with the new young guys coming in, it’s about the BRAND NAME more than anything else which will bring that HYPE(nyana) for atleast two years or so and you never hear of the brand again. Once you think of a brand name that will be eye catchy to the public during that season you then call yourself a designer and start your range, that’s where the copy paste comes in. Durban is worse than any other City with this calture and it’s killing the industry big time. And worse of all once these Chinese guys see +5 local designers designing a same tracksuit they fill it up in all their shops then you’re fckd big time. We end up with retailers who are so confused more especially when they ask for prices, why pay FreeSlave R1000 for a tracksuit i can get from any Chinese shop at R350. The industry is dead, there’s no more pride in wearing a local brand. In 5 years to come everyone will have a shoe brand, mark my words..same thing is coming that direction now. Back in 2005 when i started a brand we all designers had pride with our unique designs in such a way that if 1 designer comes to your studio and asked you where you get your material you’d easily refer him cause you definitely knew he may use same material but not your design. Now a most trusted designer will steal your design and use your material like it’s no ones business.”