FROM THE HEART

Multi-disciplinary brand Fuata Moyo is fusing art, fashion and family into a vibrant expression of African heritage and creative ingenuity.

- GERALDINE AMOKO

In the heart of Cape Town, a creative force is stirring. The shakers and stirrers? The Mbiola siblings: fashion designer and artist Kabambi, graphic designer and photographer Martine, as well as Lusee and Tshimaro - both fashion designers, creative directors and stylists in their own right. Under the banner of Fuata Moyo, these siblings consistently create wearable art that is as much a statement as it is a piece of clothing. From custom garments to bespoke tailoring, each piece is infused with the family's rich heritage and the individual talents of its creators.

With a shared love for art and a desire to honour their late father's legacy, the Mbiola siblings have crafted a brand that is as captivating as it is meaningful. To fully appreciate the fruit that is Fuata Moyo, it's best to examine the origin of its roots.

IN THE GENES

Born in the city of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the turbulence and warfare during the late 90s left the Mbiolas' no choice but to move to Cape Town as a matter of urgency. Their father, Frederic Mbiola, was a fine artist and had a store in what is now called the Watershed, where he would sell his art. After his sudden passing due to a car accident, his wife Antoinette Kapinga encouraged her children to dabble in art and take over the store. "I always joke that we didn't choose art, art chose us. As a family, we started collaborating at a very young age after losing our father, who was the breadwinner of the family," reveals Kabambi (also known as KB). This profound loss left their young mother alone in raising seven children. "We had no other option but to rely on our creativity to survive," adds Tshimaro. "What we didn't realise back then was that we had inherited his skill, which now resides in our hands, along with a similarly creative mind.