Kgosi Maleka: liberation of personal style
Our April Closet Portrait features Kgosi Maleka! Kgosi grew up in South Africa, where a conservative culture prevented him from fully expressing his personal style. After coming to New York, he found a new path for himself. Today, he loves thrifting, wearing diverse textures, and balances comfort with style in all his fits!
Special thank you to the incredible photographer, Amelia Hammond, who made this closet portrait come to life.
Download Arête in the App Store today, follow Kgosi, and get inspired by his fashion/see her favorite looks!
“I’m from Johannesburg, South Africa. The culture in South Africa is very conservative, so moving to America liberated me to express my style.”
“This is my everyday outfit! You have to have the shorts to keep the wind through your legs, and I have to represent New York. This is my typical Sunday fit. It makes me feel free. I like to express myself through my outfits. Style allows me to show the world who I am, without saying anything.”
“I thrifted this Jamaica t-shirt with my girlfriend, Helena, and I just really loved the colors! I’m not really from Jamaica, so I call this co-representation!”
“This is my cozy outfit. I wear this on a cloudy day. I love things that are handmade and have character. This represents me on a cold day.”
“This outfit makes me feel confident. It’s not about wearing a bunch of layers to show how big you are. This is simple but great.”
“Over the years, my personal style has been through a large arc. I started with wearing Hypebeast and skate-wear. I steadily turned towards more contemporary outfits and simple t-shirts and black pants. Now, I’ve embraced colors and textures and feel the most confident.”
“Getting dressed gave me a big boost of confidence during my first prom in 12th grade. This was my first time wearing anything formal. Seeing myself in the mirror wearing a tie and shirt was different for me to embrace, but ever since then, this has become a core style for me.”
“When I feel the most confident, I wear a suit and tie. This blends the professional and casual, and it always makes me feel confident when I wear something semi-formal.”
“I’m wearing this outfit for a date night. It’s low-key but dark. I love the texture on this jacket — it’s thrifted. I would describe this style as ‘me.’ It’s something I would throw on any time with a pair of jeans. It’s a combination of work and business.”
