I Am African And I Can: Flory Ramoreboli

Breaking the Rules of Fashion

From Lesotho, Southern Africa, Flory Ramoreboli has festooned many closets with her distinctive, over-the-top designs. Eeney meeny miny moe, which one of you fashionistas want to wear Allfo?

"I served a bigger purpose than I thought I was," said the designer.

Ramoreboli doesn't just want to create desirable designs, she wants to create designs that stand out. Behind her cheery, teddy bear personality lies a rule breaker, a woman who takes pride in daring to be different.

Her work "embraces every culture," entrenching African and European print in it --a reflection of her culture and adventures in Germany.

It has been two years since the launch of Allflo Couture. Rather than sitting on her couch and hoping that the heavens will spear her pocket an overflow of cash, 80 percent is her spending money. Which is why her advice to those who want to get rich quick is, "don't get into it just for the money."

There is a lot of investing, a lot of "time, blood and sweat" that goes into designing attire through which people find comfort in. But it all unravels positively: seeing her clients wear her designs with ownership, and her models feel gratitude.

Allfo model Fanta Camara revealed that wearing the designs and showing them off on the runway has allowed her to express herself and passion while showcasing her "black beauty."

Despite Ramoreboli's changing endeavors in the past --being a hair stylist, make-up artist-- and now a fashion designer, her mother has always supported her. But that is not the case for some.

"Back home your talent is your hobby and what you learn in school is your career," said the Southern African designer. Her cousin, whom she loved dearly, was "beyond" talented and never acted upon it. When he passed away in 2011, "the question that rushed through Ramoreboli's mind was, "how do you live and not share your talent?"

One thing for sure, the designer has promised herself to share her talent with the world as abundantly as she possibly can. Her cousin may have not lived his dream, but she is living hers and also helping bring to life an endeavor which her cousin hoped to achieve: helping the youth realize and tap into their talent through her organization "Les ARTS."