Where the collaboration of African print and the deep knowledge of tradition are found, that’s when one can only truly understand what Parallel X Culture is all about.
Khuthadzo Mungoma (22) the founder of the Parallel X brand from Riverlea Ext.3 explains that the brand is all about African fabric with a mixture of ‘ancient knowledge’. He speaks about creating a culture where the youth is motivated to be original.
According to Mungoma, the brand started in 2014 when he just completed high school.
“The youth my own generation, we kind of like getting lost in a lot of things so I think that people are no longer being themselves, the motto of my brand is ‘the original’, I want you to be you,” answered Mungoma when asked what inspired him to start the brand.
The young entrepreneur is however not the only brain behind the brand but he has Rofhiwa Nemagovhani (19) and Lufuno Masindi (19) as his partners in the business.
The clothing brand focuses on elements of street wear.
The team is currently working on their winter wear but at the moment they have already found success in their sweaters, hoodies, and the latest release of girls’ leggings.
Mind you that the team works together to get the plain material from suppliers and then they come together in their residential area of Riverlea to sew the fabrics together before going to print with it. “From our creativity, we just put everything together,” said Mungoma.
The group posts of culture as being the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and art and that is what they trying to establish.
A quote from ‘Tradition Matters’ by Frank Sonnenberg, inspires Parallel X to continue to pushing with their culture; ‘Traditions remind us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are today and who we likely to become. Once we ignore the meaning of our traditions, we’re in danger of damaging the underpinning of our identity. Tradition reinforces values such as freedom, faith, integrity, a good education, personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, and the value of being selfless. If we disregard our values, we’ll open our eyes one day and won’t be able to recognize ‘our world’ anymore.’
Mungoma said: “Our community as you can see is, most of our friends are drowning in this drugs and gangs so I’m just in some kind of way trying to motivate them to sew their seed so that they can grow. I’m encouraging them to join the culture, to change for the better.”
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