Fashion can be more than just something people wear. It can be a form of self-expression, a source of confidence and a way to tell stories without saying a word.
That is the philosophy behind the work of Fagin Cleo, a designer from Paarl, who uses bespoke garments to celebrate individuality and challenge conventional ideas about identity and self-expression.
He is also the owner of Fagin Cleo Couture.His passion for creativity began early in his life. Cleo started drawing at the age of five and developed an interest in fashion and textiles by seven, inspired by the idea that looking good can help people feel good and present the best version of themselves.
Through his brand, Fagin Cleo Couture, he combines surface design with fashion to create garments that go beyond appearance.
Surface design incorporates elements such as colour, texture, graphics and fabric manipulation to influence how a finished piece looks and feels. For Cleo, it is also about how a garment makes someone feel and the story it communicates.
As a non-binary designer and a social activist, he believes clothing should allow people to express themselves without being confined by traditional expectations.
“We live in a society that doesn’t just conform to these copy-and-paste things, as we are quite diverse, quite multifaceted human beings,” he says.
His designs aim to promote confidence, self-love, acceptance and mutual respect, allowing people to show up authentically.
Studying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town helped Cleo become more independent and broaden his perspective. Travelling from Paarl to study in the city exposed him to new experiences and encouraged him to think beyond his immediate surroundings.
However, he remains proud of his roots and believes Paarl has much to offer to the creative industry.
“I am very proud to be from Paarl,” he says, highlighting the talent of local creatives who can transform simple materials into something extraordinary.
His contribution to the local fashion scene includes Ke’lab Designers Collaboration, which he co-founded with fellow Paarl designer Adri Andrews in 2017. Their shared passion for bespoke fashion brought together Cleo’s surface-design expertise and Andrews’s clothing-design skills.
The collaboration produced unique garments and provided opportunities to showcase their work, including at the Emerging Designer Showcase. The platform allowed local designers to present fashion as an expression of art and culture.
Cleo’s commitment to his community extends beyond fashion. Through the Matric Drive, in partnership with The Giving Hand, garments were created for matriculants who could not afford them.
The initiative recognised students for their hard work, character and community involvement rather than academic results alone.
“Every student is worthy of being celebrated,” he says.
Although the Matric Drive ran for one year, Cleo hopes to continue giving back through his own brand by sponsoring garments or taking on work for deserving students where possible.
Looking ahead, he wants to see Paarl’s fashion industry grow, with stronger support for local creatives and more opportunities for emerging designers to showcase their work in ways that benefit their careers.
He also hopes to expand Fagin Cleo Couture and eventually establish his own dedicated studio in town.
His advice to young designers is to work hard, collaborate, learn from others and remain true to their vision.
“Stand proud on your voice and what you’re trying to evoke via your design and how you do things,” he says.
Being a designer from Paarl is an important part of Cleo’s identity. He hopes to continue putting his hometown’s creative talent in the spotlight and show that where someone comes from need not limit how far their work can reach.
