Students tweak the uniform look required in township schools

Classes were out for the holidays in Grahamtown’s township — and students used the time not just to replenish their energy but their modest school wardrobes.

The only option for clothing here, where most of the black people live on the outskirts of the town, is the Schoolwear Store. But for much of the year that suits the needs of many of its young residents.

On this day during the December-January school break, people crowd into the small store. Five employees race back and forth fetching pieces for customers’ specific uniforms. The shop will sell about 100 items a day.

At the Schoolwear Store, a primary school uniform costs 400 rand (around $33) and a high school uniform costs 700 rand ($58). Ngeleza said that in town it’s greater than 20 percent more for the uniforms, plus you have to spend 20 rand ($1.66) on a taxi.

“With R20 you can buy two loaves of bread,” he said.

Thembisile Mangele is a senior at Nombulelo High School who wears a uniform of black trousers, black shoes and a black jersey with a yellow stripe around the neck.

He says the uniform can get really hot to wear, especially when the temperatures rise to mid-80s averages in summer, which starts in December. Mangele said students will cut the sleeves off their jerseys to stay cool, and to be trendy, among other personalizations.

“(People will) write weird things on trousers with chalk,” he said, and add designer patches. “It’s really cool depending on the design,” he said.

For regular clothing, people who do not make their own clothes need to go into town. One of the shops is Motha Closet, connected to the Graham Hotel. The shop’s name is a combination of owners Monwabisi and Thakara Mcopela: “Mo” comes from his name and “Tha” from hers.

“This shop came from the demand,” Monwabisi said. “There is no shop like this in Makhanda.”

Originally from Port Elizabeth, the Mcopelas relocated to Makhanda because of the National Arts Festival that the town hosts annually for 11 days from late June to early July. The festival attracts some 50,000 guests to a town of 70,000. The couple opened the shop in May 2017, selling clothing out of cars before getting the building. Motha Closet sells suits, clothing, ladies shoes and African prints.

“We are bringing Port Elizabeth onto their doorsteps now. It’s a victory for them,” Monwabisi said.

“We get all sorts of people, hence we chose this area,” Thakara said.

Customers have the option to design their own patterns for traditional African clothing that the shop sells. Thakara said the prints are “where you show your heritage.” Prices depend on the pattern and print.

Traditional African clothing and prints are still worn for special occasions, such as festivals and ceremonies.

“Those African prints are multicolored,” Monwabisi said. “Every color speaks. If you’re going to a wedding those colors speak to the theme of the wedding.”

Ladies “want different things, try to mix and match different colors so they feel confident in that,” Thakara said.