Empowering the youth with style
BLACKHEATH – Clothing brand was inspired the need for people coming from violent and impoverished backgrounds to reclaim their power.
Don’t dress to impress, rather dress to empower with Overrule Manaba Way.
With the aim of telling his story and the stories of many others like him, Growing Champions member Sonti Alpheus Lebopa (20) has started his very own clothing brand. Having survived a childhood of hate, negativity and abuse, Lebopa plans to stand tall and change these cycles with his Overrule Manaba Way (OMW).
Lebopa said, “My reason for starting the brand was to empower those who never had an extended hand given to them. To say, you are enough, in fact, you are greatness and to show them that what we think is impossible after being bullied, is possible.”
Through the clothing brand, Lebopa plans to educate people about their own greatness and how to release it rather than focus on the hate or bullying that is spread around them.
He said OMW was inspired by the need for people coming from violent and impoverished backgrounds to reclaim their power. “I don’t come from an easy background, childhood was not easy and being bullied until I became the bully was the central theme. I know most of us have experienced the aftermath of being bullied. It changes you. You feel so alone. Being a bully feels worse still. When you hate on others, you are expected to feel like a king and you sometimes do, for a moment. But it doesn’t last and when you are alone, you hate yourself.”
Having taken years to bounce back from, he now looks back to ensure that many avoid this path.
With a few months under his belt as the head of the OMW clothing line, Lebopa’s has already found joy and success in his journey. “My highlights so far have been actively helping building confidence among my peers, seeing the smiles of people who have purchased and worn my clothes and, most importantly, showing teenagers that it’s possible to reach greatness when it is built out of purpose. I like it when people don’t dress to impress but dress to empower because together we are the future.”
To see more of Overrule Manaba Way, check out Instagram @MANABABRAND. To purchase items or support the brand, phone or WhatsApp Sonti Alpheus Lebopa on 072 310 7579.
