POLOKWANE – The Seshego-based duo say they are grateful for the opportunity and excited to show off their work to the rest of the world. They are the owners and head designers of the streetwear clothing label, Phum Phele Clothing.
“Along with our streetwear range, we also design bridal wear and formal attire. We are best known for our T-shirts, caps and jackets,” they explain.
Their brand caters for young fashionistas who are eager to keep up with the latest trends. The self-taught designers say their products have been positively received and fit in well in the market.
“We want to expand our brand even more by adding fashion for people of all ages. One of our goals is to open a retail store to offer our existing clients a ‘feel and choose’ experience on a bigger platform and at the same time attract new clientele.”
Trilla says their hard work and dedication has led to their inclusion in a London fashion show and they are elated that they are able to pick the fruits of their labour.
He says they often market their products on social media and as a result they have managed to secure clients across the country who request designs from Phum Phele Clothing.
He says the demand is constantly growing so they had to expand to keep up. With the growth of their brand, they have managed to employ six youths in their community.
Thomas says the brand went commercial last year but they had been designing clothes for some time before that.
“After matriculating, our families did not have the means for us to further our education. It was sad seeing our peers moving from Kasi to study. The fact that we were not able to go to university to better our lives was unbearable,” he explains.
In an effort to earn an income, Thomas and Trilla teamed up to design clothes and Phum Phele Clothing was born.
Thomas says although they were not quite sure how everything would turn out, they were happy to keep themselves busy and off the streets. He says despite winning the trust of their clients, they still face their fair share of challenges.
“We spend all our own money on material, so when clients fail to collect their orders we don’t make a profit. That is just one of the many challenges we face,” he continues.
BONUS asked the duo about their upcoming trip to London. “We are leaving for London on 24 November. We are excited about the opportunity and we plan to launch our new collection overseas,” says Trilla.
They say they hope to network with other designers, discuss possible collaborations and sell their clothes on the international market.
Along with being a successful designer, Trilla is also a talented hip-hop artist who is making waves on the local music scene.
“I released two singles, Auzwe and Phum Phele this month and both singles have received airplay on national radio. I hope this is the start of great things to come,” Trilla says.
