AS Bulawayo moves to reclaim its status as the hub of arts and fashion in the country, a new clothing design has entered the pool.
SINDISO DUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
Barely three months since entering the trendy market, new kid on the block Shade O’ Grey has been getting good reviews from fashionites on social networks.
The label’s founder Bez Ndlovu (29) said they were overwhelmed with the positive responses since entering the market.
“People love how we are bringing mainstream street wear to the city. We are getting a lot of support both locally and internationally. We are setting a trend; a standard to be more exact, so people are already expecting and predicting big things to come from the brand,” Ndlovu said.
“The brand appeals to an urban market comprising trend-loving and boundary-pushing young Africans. We are all about breaking boundaries that separate society as a whole. The main objective is not to produce attractive fashion, but to showcase a positive lifestyle as well.”
On why he settled for the name Shade O’ Grey, Ndlovu said: “There is a popular English saying that goes ‘life is not black or white, it’s a million shades of grey’.
What it means is that being human, we often look at others through the tunnel vision of our own life experience, but it does not take a rocket scientist to realise that using our own limited vision of life can lead to misunderstanding or even hatred.
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“I chose the name to reflect being free of all that. A name that shows a brand that reflects how we are all different and unique in our own kind of way.”
The fashion label has roped in local musician Kwanfire Asaph, hip-hop outfit M.i.C. and T1 as brand ambassadors.
The label currently has trendy T-shirts, but has promised to broaden its horizon to include sweaters, head gear, tank tops and crop tops. The T-shirts are being sold at one of their outlets in the city centre.
Ndlovu said fashion was all about identity, creativity and charisma.
