Pretoria Rising: The Social Market

WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo IMAGES supplied by Maitele Wawe

The Social Market founder Maitele Wawe tells us how the capital city is going avant garde.

Pretoria isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind when in search of things hip and happening, yet when we look at The Social Market, and the designers operating out of the city, it’s starting to look like the very definition of all things fresh and edgy. Maitele Wawe, creator of this platform and meeting place for entrepreneurs and lovers of fashion, art, food and music, shares why he’s so excited for the city’s cultural future.

Your image is individual and fashion forward. When did you first fall in love with fashion?

It happened when I moved to Pretoria. Although I had always had an eye for fashion, moving to a bigger city opened my mind and attracted me fearlessly to the unconventional.

Is Pretoria the next big cultural centre?

I definitely feel Pretoria is becoming a cultural centre. There were always people who appreciated arts and culture, but we lacked the vision to see ourselves being compared to Johannesburg in terms of fashion. The Social Market has made that possible, and people are starting to appreciate Pretoria for its fashion aesthetic.

Are there qualities that are unique to the Pretoria scene?

There are – its design, and the fact that it’s the capital city of our country. Other than that, there was nothing available in the cultural scene that made it unique. We saw an opportunity to create a movement that would make Pretoria unique and show off its beauty.

What do you offer at The Social Market?

The Social Market is designed to be the best of its kind. It’s guided by fashion, food, art and music. Within each department we offer a variety of products. We do this because we know how diverse the individuals attending the market are, and we want there to be something for everyone.

Don’t miss the next Social Market on Sunday 4 October 2015. Details here. Follow The Social Market on Facebook for more information.