Dr. Rebecca Malope, known as South Africa’s Queen of Gospel, has taken on a new role in the fashion world at the age of 56. Known for her powerful music and timeless voice, Dr. Rebecca has now added fashion design to her list of talents.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, when music events were on hold, Dr. Rebecca found herself with more time and decided to explore her love for fashion. She began by altering her old clothes and soon started designing stylish dresses. She showcased two of her own creations at the South African Music Awards on November 2, and another at the funeral of Crown Gospel Music Awards founder Zanele Mbokazi Nkambule.
Coming from Lekazi, Mpumalanga, Dr. Rebecca shared her thoughts on the importance of musicians planning for life beyond their prime years. “In this industry, your time comes and goes. When it’s not your time in music, don’t wait for things to get worse and become a charity case. Instead, sit down, identify another talent, and use it wisely,” she told Daily Sun. “God has blessed us with multiple talents, so let’s use them wisely. Because I love fashion, I’m now embracing fashion design.”
What began as a hobby has now grown into a budding business. Dr. Rebecca has received numerous orders for her designs and envisions creating a fashion line that will be accessible in major retail stores at affordable prices for men, women, and children. While her line doesn’t have an official name yet, her family affectionately calls it “Rips and Rips Cotton” or “Rips and Rips Divine.”
Even with her new fashion passion, Dr. Rebecca is still devoted to her music. “I’ll continue releasing new music to worship God for keeping me all this time. I’ve been in the music industry for a long time and don’t feel rushed to release new songs. I’ll wait for God to give me the message He wants me to deliver to His people and then write a song about it,” she said.
