Unveiling the secrets of Denetric Malope's international fashion success
The first quarter of the year was exciting for many reasons, but for the fashion industry, it is because of major fashion weeks that set the trends for the next couple of years.
The New York, London, Milan and Paris stages are set ablaze with futuristic fashions, artistic excellence and beautiful models. One local model who is not a stranger to these stages is Limpopo-born Denetric Malope.
Although Malope always had his sights set on international markets, it was as a fashion designer that he had ambitions and not as a model. But he credits preparation and a bit of luck for prompting him in this direction.
“I was attending an African National Fashion Week, and there’s a guy who spotted me and said, ‘darling, you’re gorgeous’, you should do something like that. And it wasn’t something that I was doing because I studied fashion and I see myself as a designer,” said Malope.
“So since then, I started deviating and looking in a different direction [thinking] this is maybe what I could be as well. And I started falling in love with it.”
Malope has since gone on to show the world what he called “a different side of beauty.”
At the age of 24, Malope has made a significant impression in the competitive international fashion scene with formidable campaigns under his belt already having walked for luxury brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada and Fendi among others and is now based in fashion’s epicentre: Paris.
Malope is part of a series of digital conversations called ‘The Science of Success To…’ presented by Momentum. This conversation, hosted by seasoned broadcaster Timothy Maurice Webster, focused on Malope’s journey to becoming a global brand.
Malope said he always knew he was different and is grateful for his upbringing.
“And I grew up in an area where I was very unique and I was allowed to be unique and my uniqueness was catered for by each and everyone. I always knew I was different,” says Malope.
“I didn’t do what everybody did. I always felt like there's more that could be. I still feel like that. But I always wanted more and I wanted to see more from myself. And even with certain goals that I had set, I always wanted to achieve better and more,” he adds.
Malope attributes his upbringing to how he remains grounded even when flying all over the world.
Building a global brand
In terms of his international brand and persona, Malope believes that remaining authentic and relevant makes his brand a sustainable one. That’s not to say that he doesn’t recognise the precarious and possibly short-lived nature of the modelling industry and he is therefore learning to manage his finances.
“Earning in foreign currencies and living in different tax jurisdictions has taught me a lot,” he said. “The impulse to overspend is sometimes there, but I’m saving for when this part of my career journey is over.”
He is preparing for when his career is not buzzing like it is now - and building a sustainable brand that can allow him to do other things.
“I think having future plans and planning and saving while you're still at your peak [is important],” he said. “I think it's so important at the peak. We always feel like it's never going to end. It's always going to be there.
“And with this career, it works with how you look and your age. I studied so that when it goes down, I can always fall back to my studies and I've been thinking a lot about staying relevant.”
One of the things he has learned on his journey is to always think ahead and make decisions with the future in mind.
The Pressure of Success
Many successful people have shared that when success hits - there is an increase in requests for money from family, friends, and others. There is also the pressure of maintaining a lifestyle that matches the perception others have of your success - a delicate balance to maintain. But Malope doesn’t allow this to get to him.
“I think with me I have this thing where I don't allow the pressures of others to get to me, especially financially, because I know my pocket more than they do,” Malope said.
Malope also has a younger brother, Lebo Malope, who is also following in his footsteps and who Malope guides, in an effort to ensure that his brother has a career and financial security and success of his own.
He has also scouted four models on his own that he is also introducing to the international market and he declared ‘the more the merrier to be honest.”
Malope is also clear about setting boundaries in terms of supporting others and puts limits on how much he is able to do within his means.
Asked what he would say to his 13-year-old self, knowing what he knows now, Malope placed the emphasis on always being yourself and acknowledging that you are unique and beautiful in your own way. “And always find the joy in small things,” he said.
For Webster, what he learned from this wise beyond-his-years boy from Limpopo is that it was no accident that Denetric has risen to the top of his craft. “He was always prepared for what he believed would happen to him, and above all, he his has his own back.”
Self-belief, preparedness and a strong sense of self-preservation are all part of Denetric’s alchemy in his own science of success.