I live every day like I’m in a fashion show-Sir Lomèo
After losing his job during the Covid-19 pandemic, Barthalomew ‘Shihlomulo’ September, also known as Sir Lomèo, turned to his passion for fashion design. He hails from Ka-Khaxani and is one of seven children from a royal family.
He has a background in digital marketing, food technology, and environmental sciences and extensive experience in radio and content creation among other things. “I have been designing lowkey since 2015 but officially launched my brand in 2022. I designed a dress for my little sister, Kayla, a makeup artist who wore the dress to the Standard Bank Creatives Awards where it stole the show,” he says.
“Standard Bank took notice and reached out to me, opening doors for further opportunities in the fashion industry.” He has since collaborated with various artists and recently provided the wardrobe and directed a music video for his favourite DJ, Lady Shiks, featuring SimeFree, showcasing his versatility. “I also had the opportunity to showcase my work at the Excelsior Fashion Week,” he says. He also sponsored Mashudu Mureyi with outfits for her Miss Tourism International entry in Malaysia earlier this year.
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“My family is very supportive and is involved in almost all my projects. My mom is the backbone and support structure of everything I do. When the work is too much, everyone chips in and does something to speed up the process. We make a good team,” he adds. In addition to his creative pursuits, he is also the founder of Wundla, a foundation to assist poverty-stricken children. He says he expresses his emotions through fashion design, and also with the clothes he wears himself.
“My goal is to make a statement with every outfit and put a smile on my clients’ faces. I put the same effort into every outfit I make.” His motivation is his clients’ appreciation when they see his creation for the first time. “I want to see how they react, that keeps me going. I live every day as though I’m in a fashion show.” His advice to other entrepreneurs is to just go for it. “If you can dream it, it means it is achievable.” He says he never stops until he gets the desired results. “Hard work is all it takes,” he concludes. Visit his Facebook profile, Sir Lomèo, @lomèoseptember on TikTok, @SirLomeo on Instagram, or contact him at 065 836 9536.
