Plain flavoured clothes… down to a T
A MARRIED couple from Mitchells Plain who started a successful clothing range based on positive street culture, want to encourage people to buy locally made products.
Aimee, 34, and Ashraf Isaacs, 38, started Plain Flavoured and Team Restock a year ago.
“We started with the idea of only being an online brand, but there are still many South African’s who do not trust online shopping. Many would just prefer to feel the products and try them on before purchasing. So we decided to sell the products at events,” said Ashraf.
They included other local start-up businesses and encouraged them to also sell their brands at these events. “It has been successful because it is a lifestyle brand. But we also want to encourage people to buy locally made products,” he said.
Ashraf said he grew up liking the street culture in Mitchells Plain of wearing branded sneakers and clothing.
“At that stage I was about 12 years old and could not afford the expensive sneakers. At the age of 13 I started selling the Cape Argus and fruit for pocket money. I come from a family who are self-employed. During the holidays I also worked on a construction site with my uncle. This is when I bought my first pair of Converse One Star sneakers. I will never forget them.
“That is also why we started with the T-shirts, which are made by local seamstresses from the Cape Flats. So we are proudly South African. The T-shirts we designed are also about our Cape Flats heritage, and this is why a lot of young people like them.”
The couple also own Team Restock, where they sell sneakers out of the boot of their car at a monthly event.
“This is quite popular because people come and buy branded sneakers at cost price. We also sell second-hand sneakers. The people who usually buy them, are the ones who can’t afford the new ones and are looking for specific brands,” said Ashraf.