He’s the ‘Minister of enjoyment’, and at just 25, Phupho Gumede-K is a force to be reckoned with. 

After taking his early morning walk along Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town, the self-assured and bold Phupho Gumede-K graces us with his presence on set. Ready to immerse himself in the full experience of this moment, he delights the team with his pure energy and zest for life.  

“So, what are we serving today?” he says, getting into full stylist mode with our fashion and beauty team.  

It’s clear that he’s the type of person who knows exactly what he likes, what he looks fabulous in, and how to cinch a waist real good! 

But this, of course, isn’t surprising. He is a three-time Pan African Fashion Stylist of the Year, having scooped this recognition at the Africa Choice Awards in Nigeria. He also styled a whopping 21 magazine covers before hitting the age of 21! That’s definitely a world record in my books.  

In 2022, the stylist to the stars made it onto the coveted Forbes `30 Under 30′ list, gaining global recognition and being applauded for his incredible contribution to sustainable fashion through his business, Rent-A-Dress. “The young `isiZulu queer′ stylist from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, has made it; declared Forbes Africa. 

The fashion entrepreneur has made access to high-quality style easier, while paving the way for a more sustainable and conscious future as far as fast fashion is concerned.  

“Right now, I’m focused on the success of Rent-A-Dress, being a fabulous stylist and collaborating with a lot of corporates; he says, when asked how things have been going lately.  

Worth the risk  

Born and raised in Durban, Phupho moved to Johannesburg while he was in his first year at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he was studying for a Bachelor of Science degree. He didn’t even tell his family about his move to Jozi, but it was a risk he needed to take. And yes, he stood on business!  

“It was a brave step that opened me up to what is, now, my life; he says. “When I moved there, I knew that I wanted to be in fashion. So I enrolled at the University of Johannesburg and did a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion. It was during my first year that I dived right into celebrity styling… I worked in a line of boutiques called Romeo & Jeans, before I got approached by Essays of Africa and Mamas&Papas to style their monthly publications”. 

Fashion was something that came to the image architect organically. It’s as though he was born with vision and a keen eye for styling.  

“I guess I always liked clothing… As a child, I remember I would wrap my mom’s scarves around myself to create different designs and silhouettes,” he reminisces. “I grew up in a home filled with women, and dressing up was always something I’d seen in front of me. So, before I was 10 years old, I knew I wanted to be a part of this world.”  

There are eight billion people in this world. Don’t focus on the naysayers. Instead, put your energy on the eight billion that are yet to witness your magic

I think it’s safe to say that he’s long past merely playing dress-up at this stage. To date, Phupho has styled some of Africa’s biggest celebrities, including Khanyi Mbau, YouTuber Mihlali Ndamase, Ugandan socialite Zari ‘The Boss Lady’ Hassan and Nigeria’s Annie Idibia. People really got a sense of his fabulosity and unapologetic personality during Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Durban on Showmax/Bravo. The fashionista also worked on Netflix’s Young, Famous & African as a stylist — where he was made Head of Wardrobe for the second season, making him the streaming service’s youngest-ever head of department.  

He has accomplished so much, so quickly, but Phupho acknowledges that working in the South African fashion industry can be tough.  

“Studying to become a stylist is your best bet, so you have knowledge of what to do. However, in fashion, your network is your net worth! Invest in knowing and being known by the right people; that is the best way to accelerate your career; he advises young hopefuls.  

“In terms of challenges I’ve faced personally, I guess South Africa wasn’t always used to ‘stylists’ and didn’t know how to fully utilise them. The job of a stylist and what it entails — and the need for one — is still a foreign concept to most people in the entertainment industry?’  

Smile and style  

As he changes into his next ensemble on set, Phupho admits that his accolades thus far have been eye-opening, even for him, as a young man in fashion.  

“Being an award-winning stylist means my hard work is being recognised, which is something we don’t see often in our industry. Image makers [stylists, make-up artists, hairstylists and photographers] in Africa don’t really get appreciated for the work they put into creating the final image. So, to be ‘seen’ internationally feels good for myself, but also a good direction for the industry and all those who will come after me.” 

Speaking about the future of pan-African fashion, Phupho rejects that notion of having to gain external acceptance from outside Africa to make a significant impact on the industry itself. 

“African fashion communities are starting to understand that we don’t need external validation, which is the best epiphany we could have ever had! We only contribute to one percent of the global fashion industry, despite our demographic advantage and power of social media. That is currently changing…  

We are slowly engaging with one another as a continent. And that is where our growth will come from, cross-pollination in pan-African fashion.”  

The style whizz isn’t concerned with competing or naysayers. Instead, Phupho turns his attention and efforts to making sure he does his job so well that his shoes would be hard to fill. “I can be a bit of a perfectionist.” 

Impressed by the level of confidence he exudes, I ask Phupho what exactly walking in his shoes entails.  

“Oh, I wish it was all ‘glitz and glam’… It’s the opposite! Anyone who works in this industry will tell you; you have to roll in the mud to create a masterpiece he exclaims. “The running around, chasing deadlines, the anxiety and client changes, accommodating budgets…. It’s such a mad, mad world, but passion always takes you through it.”  

His day usually starts at 12pm “unless I’m getting paid to start earlier”. He does his errands, which are different every day depending on the project, “which is exciting”. Then he goes to the Rent-A-Dress showroom to either check on new dresses, shoot content or just check on the flow of service delivery.  

We are here and we are queer 

There’s a satisfying `ahhh!’ that echoes through the studio as Phupho takes a look at his shots with photographer Zhann Solomons. “What?! I love this moment! This is insanity! We have our cover everyone. That’s all. Go forth!” the flamboyant fashion fundi jokingly instructs the team. 

Thrilled with the outcome of the shoot so far, Phupho continues to pull out his best poses, and of course his face card never declines.  

Chatting to him about Pride Month, Phupho is excited to express himself, making it clear that he is living the best version of himself and will never apologise for being ICONIC. 

 “I am a proud black gay boy. I will definitely be doing Pride, always. I think it’s important for us to celebrate the ones who have come before us and fought for the rights we have now, and to also fight for the next generation as well. I’ll probably be doing some activations around Pride Month with organisations that fight for and protect LGBTQIA+ rights,” he says.  

Phupho is not only a stylist. He has become a powerful role model for young, queer South Africans who see him as an inspiration — he is something of a ‘success story’ they look to as a reference for what they, too, can achieve.  

We need to push the envelope when it comes to delivering world-class red carpet moments, and we are capable of that

“My existence alone is a rebellion. I think when people think LGBTQIA+ activism, they think only about marching down the street (which is important), but when you are part of a marginalised community, your existence, your effort, your visibility, is more than just that… It’s a statement,” he emphasises. 

 “So for me — a black gay boy — to be able to climb the ladder in my field means we are more than a quota. We can have more than one of us at the table, and that is what we need to normalise in all our workplaces. Being a ‘sympathy gay’ is not an achievement. We need to be seen as equal so our people can occupy all the places they qualify for and step up to in society.”  

Phupho is no stranger to the feeling of inequality due to sexual orientation or gender stereotypes. 

“To queer creatives, I would say: Unfortunately, you are going to have to be more talented, hardworking, focused and qualified than your straight counterparts to get in the door. But it’s your responsibility to make sure once you are inside, you make it easier for others from your community to get in. Struggles become useless if the next generation has to go through the same struggles. The community in South Africa still needs to be uplifted and given more support… Give us equal opportunities. Give us the same right to the justice system. Give us access to the same healthcare.” 

Living life to the fullest  

He truly has a proud, tenacious, fighting spirit, whether it’s used to uplift other creatives or to make big moves personally. Speaking of ‘fight, Phupho recently overcame a life-threatening knock to his health but, as always, he got up and came back swinging with a renewed, fierce spirit.  

“I had a heart attack earlier this year:’ he reveals, “and that has sort of shifted my perspective on life and health. Work was my main priority for the longest time, and when you get so close to death, you realise you only have one life, and you need to take care of it. So, I am prioritising rest, health and mental health above work this year. I do pilates, swim, play tennis, go for walks and enjoy the gym occasionally. I also read a lot and take time out to relax,” he says.  

As for what’s next, Phupho is just getting started. He plans to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity in every project he takes on.  

“I want to create a legacy,” he says, “one that not only celebrates African culture but also leaves the world in a better place than I found it.”  

Aside from fashion, Phupho enjoys podcasting and presenting. Now in its second year, ‘The F Word’ YouTube show has gained a large following for its celebrity and fashion news and hot takes. If you want to know the who, what and where, his chats are where it’s at!  

“It pokes fun at celebrity red-carpet fashion moments both locally and internationally. However, the aim is to push the SA fashion industry to push boundaries,” he explains. “I think we have daring creatives in this country, and the most beautiful women as canvases. We need to push the envelope when it comes to delivering world-class red carpet moments, and we are capable of that. So ‘The F Word’ is here as the police to remind the industry to not drop the standard!”  

He’s already achieved so much but, for Phupho, the journey has only just begun. And if his past work is any indication, the world is about to see a whole lot more from him. 

As the shoot wraps, he has some final words as we celebrate Pride Month: “Two things: everything you want is on the other side of fear. Secondly, there are eight billion people in this world. Don’t focus on the naysayers. Instead, put your energy on the eight billion that are yet to witness your magic. 

Quick Q&A 

Celebrity Icon: Kim Kardashian.
Fashion Staple: A white T-shirt. The list of what you can do with it is endless.
A Song That Gets You Going: Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’.
Describe Yourself in One Word: ICON.
Pet Peeve: Lying, unprovoked, as an adult. It’s a character flaw.
A Quote You Live By: It’s a Bible verse: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
On Your Bucket List: Marrying Tom Ford! 

Keep up with Phupho 

Facebook: Phupho Gumede
Instagram: @phuphogumedek
TikTik: @phuphogumedek
YouTube: Phupho Gumede K

By: Charndré Emma Kippie
Photography by: Zhann Solomons
Text courtesy of Club X magazine