This past weekend saw the fifth Social Market held at Mushroom Lounge in Pretoria. The Social Market is a gathering of some of the hippest and trendiest individuals in Pretoria.

“We came up with the concept after noticing that there wasn’t a scene for creatives in Pretoria to gather and share ideas,” says Maitele Wawe, one of the co-founders of the Market and part of a collective known as ‘Fashion Rebels’.

“We saw a demand for a space in Pretoria where people with the same artistic, creative mindset could meet up and enjoy good music and company while being themselves.” While the social market is a melting pot of fashion and culture, Wawe stresses that everybody is welcome. “It’s about the vibe, more than anything.”

Established last year on the 7th of September, the Social Market aims to create a social economy in Pretoria.

Set in a laid back urban setting, the social market boasts both hip hop and house dancefloors. The market is made up of a number of clothing booths and a few gourmet fast food stalls. Young business people can book a stall for R300 – R400 for art, clothing and food respectively. It also offers young musicians a platform to perform for the assorted crowd attending the market. The fashion looks like something out of an awesome post apocalyptic science fiction movie. “When it comes to fashion, you can’t hit the roof and just stop. The universe is the limit,” says Khumo Pulumo, a regular attendee of the event and fashion fundi.

“This will also help young entrepreneurs and the city of Tshwane in general,” says Wawe.

Maite and his girlfriend, Seezo Sizzles have been together for two years now and insist it’s about having someone who shares the same interests and likes.

“Maite introduced me to thrift shopping and from there, that’s when my love for fashion really grew,” says Seezo.

The couple insists on individuality and agree that social criticism of their looks fuel them to be trendsetting.

“We feel funny when we don’t get stared at when we’re dressed. I feel like I’m under-dressed when I don’t turn heads,” says Maite.

They also don’t like using the word ‘clique’ when referring to their friends, their fellow Fashion Rebels.

“Cliques generally have restrictions and don’t allow for individuality”, the couple says.

The couple are quite a sight to behold, even in the generally bohemian environment of Braamfontein. One can only wonder how the moderately conservative community of Pretoria receives their unique and unapologetic style and attitudes.

“These assumptions about us build character. We get to set trends and use our fashion to play different roles,” Seezo adds.

Maite’s red mane and Seezo’s golden locks add an interesting look to the pair, almost like a mighty lion king and his queen. They’re easy going and thrive on helping young entrepreneurs.

On the future of the social market, Maite insists that he wants to put a solid foundation first before thinking about expending.

“We want to keep it where it is (Mushroom Lounge) and hopefully draw a lot of people into the city. It will help with tourism and launching young entrepreneurs. We hope the City of Tshwane arts and culture division will come on board and hopefully finance us for future markets. We want it to be as big as any other social gathering of creative, fashion forward and interesting individuals.”

The social market is a brilliant concept thought of by a vibrant collective of creatives who want to not only build and preserve culture and fashion in Pretoria, but also want to empower other young people, creative or not. In the words of the incomparable Steve Jobs, “Creativity is just connecting things.”

This best describes the Social Market experience.

This past Sunday was more than amazing, it was GREATNESS!!!!!!! See yall next month…..

— THESOCIALMARKET (@PTASOCIALMARKET) March 3, 2015

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Photography by Prettipiktures

The Social Market instagram – twitter

Maitele Wawe instagram

Seezor instagram