Q&A: Yamkela Mahlelehlele brings Maison KOTR to Bash

Yamkela Mahlelehlele has a clear mission. She intends for her brand, Maison KOTR, to excel as conceptual design studio, and for it be commercially successful. This requires finding a balance between artistic practice and business acumen. From repurposing old clothes to launching her fashion brand, recently launched a capsule collection in collaboration with fashion retailer Bash. We contacted Yamkela to find out more:

I believe that being a designer is my purpose, it’s the only way I can receive the world, personally my “why?” morphed into a “have to”. Maison KOTR is s a symbol of hope, creativity and bold expression, challenging convention while embracing diversity and eclecticism.

Through my design philosophy, Maison KOTR seeks to bridge worlds. It is connecting industry leaders with emerging talent to carve out a distinctive niche and uplift the next generation of creatives who dare to defy the norm. At its core, Maison KOTR is committed to transformation. It demonstrates that dreams can be realised when matched with courage, vision and dedication.

I take an “at play” approach when I design as that’s when I am most centred and authentic about what I am building. 

The programme has helped me grow both creatively and professionally. It has strengthened my confidence in my design voice, while also giving me a clearer understanding of how to build Maison KOTR with intention, strategy and long-term vision.

I think one of the biggest concerns is how to maintain your identity as a designer while working in a large commercial structure. When you collaborate with a big retailer, there is always the question of how to stay true to your creative language while also meeting the needs of a broader market. The fear is that the work can become diluted if that balance is not handled with care.

Another important concern is whether the collaboration aligns with your values, especially around quality, sustainability and the way the product is made. It is one thing to have a strong creative vision, but it is equally important to know that the process behind the collection reflects the same level of intention and integrity.

Designers want to feel that they are not just lending their name but genuinely contributing to something meaningful.

Designers want to feel that they are not just lending their name but genuinely contributing to something meaningful and well considered. There is also the concern of being seen and respected as a true creative partner.

For me, a collaboration should feel mutual, where the designer’s voice is protected and the partnership creates real opportunity for growth. The ideal situation is one were working with a large retailer expands your reach without asking you to compromise the essence of who you are.

One of the most meaningful forms of support is creating more access, whether that is access to funding, production resources, mentorship, retail opportunities or visibility. For many independent designers, the challenge is not a lack of ideas or vision, but a lack of infrastructure to help those ideas grow sustainably.

The industry has a real opportunity to support emerging and independent talent by investing not only in the final product, but also in the long-term development of the designer. There needs to be more space for independent designers to experiment, make mistakes and evolve without the pressure of having to prove commercial success immediately.

Growth takes time, and creative businesses need ecosystems that understand the value of nurturing originality, rather than only rewarding what already feels safe or established. Support, to me, looks like people and institutions being willing to believe in the long term potential of a brand.

More than anything, I would like to see a stronger culture of collaboration and intentional community. Independent designers need ecosystems that are not only inspiring, but also practical spaces where knowledge, opportunities and resources are shared more openly. When the industry supports independent designers in a meaningful way, it does not only uplift individual brands; it strengthens the cultural and creative future of fashion.

• Reading: The Richest man in Babylon
• Watching: Fashion Neurosis
• Listening: Ewe nkosi (Husband and Wife – Celebrating 10 years of Marriage) Butho & Yolanda Vuthela

Moments that come to mind now are; when I saw a bird I have never seen before doing whatever birds do on a tree. The second moment is hearing my mother laugh, a real belly laugh.