The (R)evolution Of Maria McCloy
I describe myself as an “urban culture-loving publicist, journalist, accessory designer and African print shoes and clutch creator” because, really, I’ve never been about just one thing.
Take today, for example: this morning I delivered shoes and clutches to a client, started writing this article, then moved into planning the publicity for two launches – Punk & Ivy’s Style Motique and an upcoming show by artist Nomsa Mazwai and musician Nakhane Touré.
To me, all these worlds are stimulating and symbiotic; they represent elements that have always been a part of me. I’m inspired by the stories I’m told; I’m dedicated to promoting great local fashion, art and music; and I’m passionate about creating accessories inspired by Jozi, my beloved city, and this incredible continent. I love all of it. If I didn’t, I’d stop.
I’d say my obsession with accessories ignited this path: as a child my family moved around a lot – we lived in Nigeria, Sudan, Mozambique and Lesotho – and my mother says I was fascinated by the markets we explored there. I remember my father would often bring home beautiful cloth, beads and dresses from work trips to Zimbabwe or Côte d’Ivoire, while my mom and grandmother instilled in me a love of Seanamarena blankets and Seshoeshoe fabric.
In 1996, as a second-year journalism student at Rhodes, I turned my obsession with music and magazines into a new reality when I co-founded Outrageous Records with my friends Kutloano Skosana and Dzino. We didn’t aim to be revolutionary or groundbreaking – we just wanted to make high-quality, clever media covering the burgeoning kwaito, house and hip-hop scenes because no one else was doing it then.
The company closed in 2009 but hardly a day goes by without someone telling me how our work inspired them. We nurtured talent like Zubz, H20, Proverb, Optical Illusion, Reason, Nthabi, and Pebbles, and released the second ever SA hip-hop compilation ‘Expressions’ as part of the genre-bending CD, The Coca-Cola Collaboration.
Do you remember urban culture website rage.co.za? And what about TV shows like Bassiq, Street Journal, Noted and Soul Sunday? That was all our work, and today many of our former staff and artists are still rocking the local and global media and music scenes, which is incredible to witness.
Today, I’m happiest working on Maria McCloy Accesories, which launched in 2012 after I discovered beautiful copper wire earrings at a market in Maseru. Soon I was stocking Stoned Cherrie, Sun Goddess and Mantsoe, then adorning the ears of models at Fashion Week and being worn by celebrities like Lira and Simphiwe Dana. I’ve since expanded my range to include clutches and men’s and women’s shoes covered in Seshoeshoe African prints from West, East and Central Africa.
My brand philosophy is simple: African aesthetics, traditions and design are as relevant as any other culture’s. Africa is not a faddish trend – our designs should be rocked everywhere from the red carpet to corporate boardrooms.
As for my clients, they’re all my muses. They inspire what I create. I’m so glad that all kinds of women are attracted to the cloth. How could they not be?
Find Maria at Market On Main every Sunday; Burgundy Fly and Maponya Mall.
Follow her on Instagram: @mariamccloy Facebook MariaMcCloyAccessories and Twitter @mariapodesta and contact her direct for orders outside of Jo’burg.
Words by Maria McCloy
Images – Maria McCloy
