Shaylene Morris: how she disrupted the fashion industry

The winner of the MINI Scouting Menswear Competition Shaylene Morris shares her inspiration and vision for her unisex couture brand, Bi Parel

GQ: Congratulations on taking the MINI Scouting Menswear crown. What does this mean to you?

Shaylene Morris: ank you. I can't explain to the full extent of what this means or how it really felt. It was really an out of body experience at that moment. I feel as a designer, as much as I want to be di erent and bring new ideas to life, I struggle to nd a balance between creativity and retail. I'm constantly rethinking every step because

I'm so xated on getting my message across without words. Winning this competition was a personal con rmation to myself that I'm on the right track, and although I might doubt myself, if others believe in me this much I need to give myself more credit.

GQ: How has Bi Parel been received by consumers as a unisex street couture brand?

SM: Bi Parel started o as a menswear brand. Soon a er, I was approached by a lot of female customers who loved my style and always asked if I made garments in their size. My pieces are versatile for the most part. It was never originally planned to be a unisex brand, but in today's fashion culture the lines are blurred between genders.

GQ: The idea of X-rays on garments is not only unique but next-level – what was the thought process behind it?

SM: I was always fascinated with x-rays and how they capture what we cant see with the naked eye. I did research to see if anyone had ever experimented with x-ray and clothing and came up with nothing. So for two years I collected x-rays and worked out a way to use them as a part of the collection and as an inspiration for my line work, silhouettes and colour choice. is platform was the perfect time to showcase it.

GQ: As a woman, what do you find intriguing about menswear and what sort of challenges are you faced with when marrying menswear with women's wear?

SM: I view menswear as an untapped market. For centuries women's wear has been leading the fashion industry. Men have always tested the waters when it came to fashion, but never ventured too far out of the comfort zone. We see over the past few years slowly men have been experimenting with their fashion sense. Right now is the perfect time to be designing menswear because we can nally push the envelope of men's fashion more than before. For the most part marrying designs isn't a challenging concept, I just need to focus on my brand identity with a more loose grunge look, and rather design for the more Tomboyish style then purely feminine looks.

GQ: Men and women have different needs when it comes to fashion but you’re able to accommodate both genders – what’s the common thread?

SM: I feel as though the common thread is the customers themselves. We are entering a fashion era where gender has become obsolete when it comes to clothing. People aren't afraid to wear what they want.

GQ: What does it mean to be a South African female designer in 2019?

SM: ere has always been South African female designers but not many that venture into menswear. Being a female designer who specialises in menswear can be a little di cult as some men I've encountered along the way aren't too thrilled about the idea. At this point it's really up to me to prove that females can design and lead that ideal for others to follow.

GQ: How do you envision your brand growing in SA and abroad?

SM: I plan to grow my brand in SA rst and collabs are a great way to do it – it taps into a market someone else has without having to prove yourself too much to them. Having a big name to back you up boosts your reputation in untapped markets that your partner has already gained. I also want to tap into apparel and sell a lifestyle brand.