Young clothing designer’s dream is becoming a reality

Lesego Mahowa (18) hails from the remote village of Ga-Mahowa in Bolobedu.

His closing label, Strive has been nominated for Clothing Brand of the Year in the 015 Awards.

The creative clothing designer who recently matriculated from Modubtse High School in Kgapane township will battle it out with other designers for the coveted award on 5 June.

According to the organisers, the awards ceremony will be held virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic and winners will walk away with big prizes.

Mahowa said that last year he was nominated for another award but unfortunately he couldn’t get enough votes.

“When I started this brand it wasn’t anything serious.

So in 2017, while I was in grade 9, I decided to start a designing business.

To my surprise it became a huge success.

Also read: Two youngsters start their own water business

“I’m also a graphic designer. People asked me to design clothes for them, or anything creative.” He said the brand was first named Cripple.

According to him he cannot say why decided on the strange name. “It got criticised a lot and we changed the name to Strive.

“I was inspired by one of Cassper Nyovest’s song with the title, Strive.

The message in the song inspired me.

“I started the brand with my partner, Jack Mahowa and we’ve been working together since 2017,” said Mahowa.

Also read: Itumeleng helps struggling drug addicts

He says he printed Strive stickers and made a video of him putting it onto cars.

He posted it on social media and asked his followers repost it.

“That’s how the brand started to get recognition from people in my community and in neighbouring areas.”

The first celebrity who recognised the brand was Mathema Kgomo who plays Kelebogile on the SABC 1 drama, Skeem Saam in 2019.

“We met and took videos and pictures which we uploaded on social media.

From that day the brand started to grow.”

He says he had challenges with people criticising the brand and giving it a bad reputation, but he kept pushing and now his brand has grown into a recognised brand.

Strives enjoys support from across the Limpopo province, but particularly in the Greater Tzaneen and Letaba areas.

It has also grabbed the attention of one of South Africa’s young top multi-talented artists, Vigro Deep.

He wears the brand and even celebrated his birthday wearing Strive.

“I m proud to say he’s now a Strive ambassador.

My next goal is to grow the brand outside of our province and present it to the whole of South Africa.

“I hope to one day have stores around South Africa and internationally so that I can create employment.

2020 had been a great year for me and the brand,” said Mahowa.

Mahowa has assembled a team of people who are busy helping promote the brand so that it can reach even greater heights.

He further said that MaVee On The Beat and PeazFade were recently named as Strive’s latest ambassadors.

“My advice to anyone in the same industry as me is to never give up and don’t let negative people get to you.

Strive’ your way to the top.”

To vote for the brand in the 015 Awards, SMS “Strive NinetyFour” to 35029.

A SMS costs R3.

For more information about the brand, follow them on social media: Instagram @strive94.za, Whatsapp or call them on 083 371 3591, Twitter @ZaStrive, Facebook Strive NinetyFour.