Young go-getter not missing out
Social media fan has big plans for clothing label
It is incredible that social media trends can influence someone to start a business.
Sandile Zikhali is a 24-yearold entrepreneur from Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, who established his own clothing label in 2015, thanks to social media trends. He named his company Fomo Apparel, an abbreviation for “fear of missing out”.
Many businesses are founded because of sheer passion. For Fomo, it was passion for fashion and social media influence that saw the business take off. The label specialises in designing caps, beanies, T-shirts and goody bags.
“The reason why I decided to start a clothing brand was because I wanted to give people exclusive garments at a reasonable price.
Unlike young people who use social media posting social comments and pictures, the young businessman takes advantage of social platforms to grow his business.
“The reason I chose the word [Fomo] was that I want my brand to be more than just a brand, but a fashion lifestyle.
“I want it to adapt and change with styles as they come and go. My clients and customers can never be bored of it because it will always be updated with the latest trends,” Zikhali said.
“… My dream is to give opportunities to young graduates in the fashion industry, graphic design, photography, marketing, as well as models. I want to work with all these people as I know that they play a very crucial role in building a successful clothing brand.’’
Zikhali, a social media fanatic, believes that his enterprise will become the talk of the town.
Zikhali was once contacted by popular SABC1 drama Skeem Saam’s scriptwriter to provide him and some of the actors with his merchandise.
However, Zikhali did not have enough money to make the goods. “I was disappointed but that made me stronger. I realised that hard work brings more opportunities.’’