She’s South Africa’s only bridal designer who is also a record-holding weightlifting champ. But Laryne Jefferies likes breaking stereotypes …
By day she’s a highly creative fashion designer who makes women’s dreams come true with her delicate, bespoke bridal gowns and unique party dresses. But when Laryne Jefferies hits the gym, her ginger hair tied up in a no-nonsense ponytail, there is nothing whimsical about her … an athlete who drives herself to lift weights of 80, 100, 107kg above her head.
How does one navigate such extremes – the feminine world of tulle, silk and hand-beading on the one hand, and the male-dominated world of weights and bulging muscles on the other? The 31-year-old laughs as she shrugs her (very muscular) shoulders. “I’m a fashion designer first – that is my passion. As a child I wanted to become an artist, and now I get to create garments that make women feel beautiful,” she says. Art took preference over sport when she was at school, and she was in her twenties before Crossfit first piqued her interest in fitness.
Her fashion journey took off when an internship brought her to Joburg in 2013, shortly after graduating in fashion design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The internship, with designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, went so well that Coetzee offered her a full-time position and over the next seven years, this is where Laryne honed her craft and found her own design style. When Covid-19 sent people home as businesses closed, Laryne took the plunge and set out on her own, to finally make her dream of her own fashion label come true. Laryne Jefferies Fashion Design was born.
It was always going to be a challenge to manage a business that trades in luxury fashion during a global lockdown, but Laryne was determined to make a go of it. Working from home, which was a cottage in Linden, she slowly but steadily built her clientele of brides, many of them based in Zambia. Bridesmaids who got to wear Laryne Jefferies at their best friend’s wedding will often reach out when they start planning their own wedding, sparing no distance to get her exquisite designs for their own bridal party.
“Word of mouth is my best marketing, and I am very grateful that I hooked into that network of women in their wedding stage of life,” says Laryne. “It is a privilege to be involved in someone’s big day, and to help her and her retinue look and feel their very best! The same goes for matric dance and party dresses – they are all about happiness, and such fun to make!”
Laryne has since moved to a bigger space to accommodate a beader and seamstress to help her with the intricate handwork. Her much-loved mini bullterrier, Emoji, loves the new lawn. “Perfect for zoomies!”
She trains, six mornings a week, at Movement Crew in Alberton, a specialist lifting gym. “If you had told me 10 years ago that I would lift weights and win medals, I would have called you crazy,” says Laryne. “But when I started lifting weights in Crossfit, it was like I was born for it – it turned out I was naturally strong, and my body responded really well to the training.” Moving from Crossfit to Olympic weightlifting happened organically, and over the past two years Laryne has put in the hard work and the daily training to slowly increase her strength.
The dedication has paid off as she holds the South African records in her weight category, and is currently training to represent South Africa at the 2023 Senior African Weightlifting Championships, taking place in Tunisia this May. At the 2022 Championships, held in Egypt, she won a silver and three bronze medals.
“I am hoping to build on last year’s achievement and have worked really hard for it,” she says. However, funding the trip is an added challenge, because Weightlifting SA only contributes a portion of what is needed. Laryne has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money, and she is pragmatic about the huge honour to wear the green and gold on the international stage. “I really love weightlifting, but ultimately it is a hobby and I don’t have a golden goose laying eggs to fund it!”
Whatever happens with the funding, she will get up tomorrow at 4:30 to get in her training session, she says. First, though, she has a dress to finish for a special client.
Details: Follow @larynejefferiesfashion and @larynejefferies on Instagram
LJ’s top bridal gown tips
- How you feel in your gown is more important than how you think you will look. Don’t limit yourself to certain silhouettes based on your figure. A dress that is made for you will flatter you no matter the silhouette.
- Well-made two-in-one designs that are constructed to look like two dresses (for example with an added skirt that is tied over the dress) give added value.
- Rather than an elaborate train, pick an embellished veil with a classic-style gown – that way you get the drama for the ceremony, but you can remove it for the reception, and have a dress you can dance in. More cost-effective too!
- Be open to exploring different shades of white. Off-white or silk white looks more luxurious and photographs better than ice white. Adding a subtle tone of colour – dove grey, blush pink, champagne – really elevates a look.
Text: Melinda Shaw • Photographer: Nicole Moore. Details: nicolemoorephotography.co.za • Make-up: Makeup by Ryno, 071-688-0242. • Outfit: Laryne Jefferies Fashion Design • Hair: Tanaz Hair. Details: tanaz.net • Location: Beechwood Gardens. Details: beechwoodgardens.co.za
