Clothes should tell stories...

Founded in 2006 in Cape Town by designer Maloti Mothobi, Strato began in sketchbooks - driven by ambition and an uncompromising love for street culture. What started as a creative pursuit evolved into a proudly African lifestyle brand shaped by fashion, music, sport, and the raw energy of contemporary urban life.

Strato emerged not simply as a clothing label, but as a cultural expression - grounded in authenticity and community.

Independently designed and defined by moments.

From its earliest days, Strato was built on entrepreneurial grit. The brand's first full collection, developed through academic design practice in 2009, laid the groundwork for what would become a respected name in South African streetwear. By 2010, Strato had established its first studio. By 2011, its first concept store - and shortly thereafter a presence on Cape Town’s influential Long Street transformed Strato into more than a retail destination. It became a lifestyle hub.

Through fashion shows, collaborations, landmark parties, and immersive brand experiences, Strato cultivated a loyal community long before digital marketing dominated brand growth.

Visibility. Impact. Recognition.

Between 2011 and 2015, Strato entered a defining era. The brand participated in major fashion platforms including Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week and Design Indaba, while simultaneously building cultural relevance through nightlife, music, and strategic collaborations. Strato dressed influential figures, partnered with global lifestyle brands, was awarded for manufacturing excellence, and earned recognition across radio, television, and print media, locally and internationally.

The long game.

Following its success in Cape Town, Strato expanded into Johannesburg, marking a significant step in the brand’s evolution. The move represented more than geographic growth - it was an opportunity to test the brand’s relevance in South Africa’s largest commercial and cultural market. The experience brought new partnerships, new audiences, and valuable lessons that would shape Strato’s future direction.

Back in 2015, the business expanded into manufacturing through StyleKontrol - a subsidiary bridging independent designers and scalable apparel production. Retail expansion, digital pivots, restructuring, and reinvention all became chapters in a larger story of resilience. By 2018, Strato entered a quieter but deeply formative phase - one of reflection, recalibration, and renewed focus on long-term sustainability. 

At the height of Covid in 2020, a re-brand embraced sharper intentionality, reduced excess, and aligned with evolving global conversations around responsible design.

20 years of street culture. Refined.

Now in 2026, Strato marks two decades not merely as a fashion brand, but as a legacy of creative survival, reinvention, and community. Shaped by local roots and informed by global perspectives, its future isn't about returning to what was - it is about honouring its history while building something more strategic, and more aligned with creative freedom.

- Well made since 2006 -