Duduza – Gift ‘Chubby’ Nhlapo, who founded the streetwear brand Lifestyle Clothingza, is building a name for himself in township fashion, driven by resilience, creativity and a strong support system.
The brand, founded in 2019, became fully operational in 2020, during the height of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
Nhlapo started the business after noting that plus-size people struggled to find the right sizes in their desired clothing.
“The idea was further fuelled by a social media campaign aiming to challenge body shaming. I first drafted a clothing range that focused on fighting that battle,” he said.
Nhlapo said the difficulties of lockdown inspired him. With limited opportunities and time on his hands, he decided to channel his energy into creating something of his own.
“I realised during lockdown that I could start something meaningful instead of waiting for opportunities,” he explained.
Gift ‘Chubby’ Nhlapo is a clothing brand founder. Photo: Nomsa Ngubeni
Although he did not initially see himself as business-minded, Nhlapo’s entrepreneurial instincts revealed themselves early on. He began by buying plain T-shirts and branding them, which later became the foundation of his clothing label.
“The idea was simple but intentional: Create a brand that allows people to feel comfortable and confident in their skin. The brand initially centred around women, largely influenced by trends and demand I saw on social media, particularly Facebook,” he explained.
Nhlapo’s brand has grown in vision and operation. The brand progressed from using basic sewing machines and small sales to reinvesting every cent made to improve production and quality.
His long-term goal is to expand the brand into more townships, making it accessible and representative of local communities.
“In the short term, I want to acquire an embroidery machine, which will allow me to produce in-house, cut out middlemen and speed up production. Any sponsorship, especially in the form of equipment and tools, would go a long way in helping my business grow,” he added.
ALSO CHECK: Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey: Becoming a school librarian
Ultimately, Nhlapo aims to produce clothing from scratch because about 85% of his skills are self-taught, though he is open to studying fashion or design-related courses to further sharpen his craft.
In the long run, he envisions designing exclusive, fully customised pieces that reflect the brand’s identity and the culture of the communities he represents.
“Behind my journey is a strong support system from my sisters and friends. I credit them as my biggest motivators and pillars of strength, constantly encouraging me to push forward despite challenges,” he added.
Nhlapo had a message for aspiring entrepreneurs: Believe in the process, and understand that building a business is not a holiday.
“This journey needs patience, discipline and belief,” he said.
His determination and grassroots innovation are a reminder that kasi-born brands can thrive with vision, persistence and support.
ALSO CHECK: Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey: Becoming a personal fashion stylist
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!