A young aspiring fashion designer, Mthobi Sibanda with a platinum heart for street couture and a taste for gothic punk designs that have a touch of modern chic with a twist of fun, is blossoming and making a signature mark with his clothing line ZEALOTS. This tall boy next door, with a calm nature and warm smile not only captures fashion’s wild hearts but also taps into your fun side that takes you back to the hip-hop 90s with his artistically designed pieces.
“I have always known that fashion was the career I wanted to pursue ever since I was 8 years of age. My parents were not supportive of it because of my good grades at A ‘Level and expected me to enroll and study at a university and it really crushed me,” he said. “I was home for two years before enrolling at Polythecnic College and I made friends with Bulawayo based designers Cyril Gobhoza and Crox, who taught me a lot about fashion and style and where always there to mentor me. I found my style and learnt how I could put a signature mark to my designs,” he continued.
Mthobi enrolled at Bulawayo Polytechnic College in 2016 and is continuing to perfect his talent in order to make ZEALOTS a force to be reckoned with nationally and beyond the borders. In 2017, he entered the Tertiary Institution Festival of Arts competition and came first because of his outlandish, asymmetrical, gothic pieces he displayed on the ramp.
“I am inspired by the 90s street fashion and Game of Thrones’ Michelle Clapton, who is the costume designer for the series, whose creativity comes to life in every season,” he said. “My peers and tutors sometimes misunderstand my style and perceive it as outlandish, risqué and dark because of the over the top designs. I personally think with fashion, it is about being bold and different and every fashion lover should have that one garment that brings out that edge or dark side to their personality. Despite challenges like material, acceptance, appreciation, I think fear and lack of creativity holds back a lot of designers and is hindering growth in the Zimbabwe fashion industry,” he added.
One can almost taste this 22 year-old designer’s passion just by looking at his work and the way his pieces draw out that fun, punk side and also the dark side every human has. Whether in dark colors or light colors, light fabrics or heavy fabrics, Mthobi’s touch is remarkable and is set to change the fashion industry.
