Meet Lourens Loux Gebhardt: internal auditor by trade, dapper by nature. Since he “quit” new clothes three years ago, Loux has only worn vintage (or his own designs), namely a three-piece suit. Through his blog and his intoxicating presence as he strolls around town dressed to the nines, he is inspiring the youth of Namibia to do the same. His uniform is the product of generations: His grandfather, who grew up in a village in Northern Namibia, and his father in Windhoek, both lived in suits. Loux inherited his father’s collection, which he modernizes with novelty patches, pins, or a pair of sneakers.
Loux the Vintage Guru: “As African designers we should never forget our roots. We should never forget where we come from. Designing using African fabrics is what makes us African, and we should be proud of who we are. Traditional fabrics are part of our cultural heritage. Regarding stereotypes, every designer has their own unique way of putting pieces together, and of telling their own stories, so there shouldn’t be a problem with that.”
As a young boy in Africa, Loux’s grandfather once told him, “My son, fashion is what you adopt when you don’t yet know who you are, make sure you are always well-dressed” and he has kept his words of advice with him all these years. Now, in addition to seeking out vintage clothing and dressing for success on a daily basis, he shares his gift of style with others. He is now collaborating with Khumbala, a group of stylists and designers from Johannesburg, to launch a street-style website that seeks to inspire Africans to step out in style and introduce them to the merits of vintage fashion.
If Loux continues making waves with the art of thrift shopping and styling as he currently is, he may be on the verge of sparking a fashion revolution in Africa. Check out his Tumblr to see whats going on in the life of this African fashion phenomenon!
