by Brigette Mashile

One question you will be asked as a creative is where do you draw inspiration? And I have sensed people want a deep answer, some philosophical long encyclopedia statement. If you have a way with words, give it to them; but if you are like me here is a simple list:

Childhood

My childhood was in a specific area, at a certain time and with people who lived in a similar manner to each other. It was a time before I discovered a lot of things, what I saw and experienced was all I knew. That is what was magical about it. I grew up with flowers in the bushes, bees migrating, growing food seasonally, birds singing the whole day, springbok running through the yard on a random Wednesday morning. It felt rural but I was in the front seat living through the most honest version of living in the bush. So much of it was pretty, and to this day I pull from the prettiness of that time.

Environment

Your environment at any time of your life has a lot to give to your imagination. Physically, mentally, and emotionally you are surrounded by many factors that can be transformed into ART. This is one of the reasons a lot of artists love metropolitan places like Johannesburg metro and New York. These cities are ALIVE each and every moment of the day. There is active and passive art in these cities, a picture on the corner of Manda and Walter Sisulu is epic. I am lucky to have lived in a village, a small town, and a big city. My material is vast, I have experienced nature, concrete and in-between. I pull from it all, at all times.

People

The people in your life are essential to your experiences. The events you live through with them are what makes your memories about certain places. For example, my one experience of Umhlanga beach is with my friends, in summer dresses and hats. My memory is filled with pastel colours, sun, feminine energy, screams as the waves hit us. And if you asked me to create a beach range, this will be one of the inspirations I pull from. I have a lot of memories tied to the people I love, with energies of that exact moment. These span from holiday, a lunch, a Christmas, funerals, graduations, births, drives, shopping, dancing, music, etc. People could also include heroes, sheroes, celebrities, movie stars, your principal, etc. A range about black history can be centered on Winnie Mandela, or Martin Luther. It can be centered on 1 victim hanged or who created something we are still using. It also can be about all of them. You ask me to do a range on ice cream, I can immediately go to Keli’s song, Barbie or Lil’Kim.

Books

I am a reader; I assume most creatives love reading. I could be wrong of course. I cannot remember how many books I have read, or digital material. I definitely read something every day; I am reading this article as I write it. Reading removes me from my real setting and throws me into the world of the writer. I get completely engulfed by a book, much more than a movie does. Reading has taught my mind to imagine. To create scenarios, I want for any type of topic presented to me. It has taught me to go to Thailand while sitting in South Africa. Again, there’s ‘feelings’ which I refer to as energy that comes with these mental travels. If you present a topic, my mind will ride it. This is probably why my favourite movies include Avatar, Aladdin, Transformers, all animation, and most pretty movies. Reading is a great inspiration for creatives; hence magazines are a huge source of material for us.

Music

I mean, obviously! Especially at a time where a song comes as a sound, a video, a live recording, and mini movie of behind the scenes. Who comes to mind? Beyonce. If you watch one of her videos about her work, you will come out inspired. The way she works, thinks, prepares, disciplines and researches is a guide to how I could work too. There are many more musicians who do this and pull from them. Do not block yourself by saying you don’t enjoy the music, look beyond the music. At the person. Number 3 on our list. I say this about genre because South Africa has so many genres, each presenting a certain people, place, and energy of life. And this is not even all the music in the whole world. I listen to kwaito, house (all types), jazz, RnB, reggae, hip-hop, amapiano, qgom, and some gospel. I have favourite songs from each; and each inspires certain creativity in me.

Travelling

I’m adding this one as it is really a strong one. It is not possible for all of course; as travelling has become expensive. One day I will go to Mexico, Cape Verde, Morocco, Turkey, Kingston or India and I will return a new person personally, mentally, and creatively. The food, people, books, music, landscapes and experiences these places have to offer will open a new portal in my mind. I will evolve into another person. I will have new ranges to build, new ideas and inspirations. A simpler way to achieve this is to watch digital media based on countries you love. Travel through that for today and be inspired.

Brigette Mashile is the founder and creative force behind Roka Roko, a custom fashion design business based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company passionately delivers quality tailored and trendy fashion to make their customers happy, and specializes in styling women by creating unusual combinations with fabric, culture and style. Brigette has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Witwatersrand and a Fashion Diploma from Studio5 School of Fashion. She’s a former fashion buyer for a major retailer in South Africa, and an international direct selling company. She’s been passionate about fashion since the age of 10 and gained invaluable experience in the fashion world running informal fashion creation businesses until the day her own Roka Roko brand was born. Find out more by visiting the Roka Roko website www.rokaroko.co.za