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SMC socks perfect for stylish men

Follow Grant Moyo on Twitter: @TotemGrant BY GRANT MOYO

SIMBARASHE Mupandi (pictured), a former fashion model and architect by profession, always wanted to have an opinion on fashion but being a model did not give him enough room to contribute immensely to the body of fashion.

Though his constant movements between cities in South Africa and Zimbabwe while studying for his Masters Degree exposed him to di erent African cultures, his modelling career took a strain as he missed out on most of the important castings.

The quest to reintroduce African cultural fashion back to the masses triggered the decision to establish his fashion brand, Style Merchant Clothing (SMC) Collection.

Mupandi was born and raised in Masvingo to educators who always wanted him to excel in academics.

At the tender age of ve, he was already a fashion enthusiast accompanying and assisting his mother with her clothing and accessories shopping at Edgars stores.

Mupandi’s modelling career kick started in 2012 after being groomed at ZimGossip Models in Harare.

Before a four year stint with GSA Models SA, a modelling agency in Durban, he was crowned Mr March for Gtel Face of Zimbabwe (2013) and got a liated with AM Model Management in Bulawayo.

Mupandi holds a Bachelor of Architectural Honours Degree and a Master of Architecture Degree from the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo.

“Growing up, my favourite publication was the Edgars Club magazine, and my wish was to appear in it at least once in my lifetime. I remember I used to ask my mother why I wasn’t on the posters or in the Club magazine like other kids of my age. I had an eye for trending fashion and made sure I dressed appropriately. My dream was to get paid to do what I love, thus, becoming a fashion model, and this was ful lled years later,” Mupandi said.

“I strutted down the runway at McBright Kavari Fashion Show in Windhoek (Namibia), Lindiwe Khuzwayo Fashion Academy Show in Durban (South Africa), LBK Fashion Show in Cape Town (South Africa), and SADC Fashion Festival in Mbabane (Eswatini), to mention but a few.

“I have also featured on Rhino Tracker’s Amarula commercial advert in Cape Town. In 2018, I had an idea for the African inspired socks, and my friend bought into the idea from the onset. He has been supporting it in all aspects, so I consider him an integral part of the brand.”

Launched in 2019, SMC Collection comprises bespoke fashionable and wearable art pieces which are inspired by African art, culture and the need to preserve the continent’s art for future generations.

The brand’s range of socks is a consummate gift for a stylish, outspoken and sophisticated gentleman who is con dent to be di erent and proactive for the cause of cultural preservation.

Made from 100% combed cotton and nished with contrasting heel as well as toe patches, Mupandi’s current collection involves socks that were inspired by the Ndebele, Zulu, Shona, Xhosa and Venda tribes. SMC Collection has both basic and glitter-coated socks to create an irresistible premium quality.

Listed as the 6th best black-owned accessories brand in the world by The Colored Guide, a British fashion blog which recognises outstanding black-owned fashion brands, SMC Collection’s target clientele ranges from culturally conscious youths to middle-aged professionals. The brand aims to service tourists who would be wanting to take back souvenirs after visiting Africa. It also provides its products to people holding traditional weddings. SMC socks top the bucket list for South Africans every September when the country commemorates National Heritage Month. Most of the brand’s international clients are Southern African expats looking for products that bring them closer to home. Able to customise socks for bigger orders, the brand is also open to working with big corporates like banks and transnational companies to ful ll their gifting needs. “SMC Collection is still an up-and-coming fashion brand but it has seen its fair share of success. SMC fans are trendsetters which is clearly visible on our online store. The brand has collaborated with some high-pro le socialites and celebrities in South Africa which has brought hope for a brighter future. The same year it was launched, an Instagram account that showcases African traditional weddings (@ traditionalafricanweddings) posted SMC socks on their page and the response was astounding,” Mupandi said.

“A former actress of Uzalo (a South African soap opera airing on SABC 1) Thandeka Zulu who is also a musician, adopted our socks to be part of her stage regalia. A few months down the line the brand also collaborated with Zimbabwean top model, Tinotenda Chinyani. The quality of our socks will lighten up a gentleman’s mood at any given day. Our very colourful and meaningful collection can be easily identi ed because of its cultural signi - cance and symbolism.” Mupandi pointed out that the work ow for the creation of the socks involves research, sketching and design. His brand enlists the services of world-class professional socks manufacturing companies in China to produce the socks in bulk. He noted that the fashion business runs on a di erent blueprint from other businesses because it relies on demand and trends.

A fashion business model which lacks versatility is bound to fail when trends change. Mupandi hinted that the SMC Collection provides fashion for a purpose and the products are never meant to trend by staying forever. Admitting to staying up all night researching and translating new ideas into designs, the architect-cum-accessory designer acknowledges that his brand stays relevant by adopting the individual centered approach.

Working with a passionate team committed to providing top-class service, Mupandi said they value customers’ shopping experience and strive to support as well as meet the needs of their clients. Therefore, most of SMC Collection’s sales come from repeat clients and referrals as its purchasing process is more personal than generic.

Shedding light on some of the setbacks encountered by his brand, Mupandi stressed that logistics are a big drawback to the operations of the establishment.

SMC Collection has a lot of potential clients in Zimbabwe and the rest of the African continent but the shipping costs have been exorbitant since the surge of Covid-19. Mupandi acknowledged that all businesses require funding for them to grow and his fashion establishment is no exception. It has faced stunted growth due to lack of nancing. Mupandi said that lack of advanced technology and machinery to produce the detailed socks slows down the supply chain of the product since they have to wait for their socks to be shipped from overseas which is time consuming.

Concerned about the harsh economic environment in Zimbabwe that makes it very dif cult for most foreign based Zimbabweanowned businesses to invest in the country, Mupandi said though it will be a mammoth task to operate, the situation would be more manageable if he gets funding to open a local plant in Bulawayo which will aid in employment creation.

“The brand relies on cash injection from the savings of the directors of the company. We have managed to keep our heads above the water by strategic planning. We are currently ordering the socks in bulk to cut the costs of shipment. We are very hopeful that after the whole coronavirus pandemic is over, SMC socks will be accessible all over the world at reasonable costs. Unfortunately, unlike in South Africa, Nigeria, China, the United Kingdom and United States, to mention but a few stable economic environments, the situation back home in Zimbabwe is rough,” he said.

“There is so much uncertainty so most people do not see the value in buying high priced quality products and it is justi able because people are struggling to make ends meet. The high rate of in ation a ects the fashion business as much as it is a ecting ordinary citizens. The fashion scene in Zimbabwe is more aligned with western fashion trends than African trends, therefore it makes it di cult for young African fashion designers to ourish. Additionally, the South African and Nigerian markets are more receptive to local designers than in Zimbabwe.”

SMC Collection is on the brink of tackling other projects that derive inspiration from wildlife conservation. The brand’s vivid online presence on its website and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter allows Mupandi and his team to reach as well as service all potential customers worldwide and stay up to date with current trends.

PEOPLE & PLACES

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2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digital.alphamedia.co.zw/article/282029035187078

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