Sharp students mean business
With a strong likelihood of graduates joining the ranks of the unemployed after graduation, three inspired student entrepreneurs are doing it for themselves,
ACCORDING to 21-year-old graphic design student Simnikiwe Ncise, a passion for clothing, a knack for all things creative and an ability to cultivate meaningful relationships with people have always been tools he has had at his disposal.
However, it was not until the inception of his clothing label, KASI, that he knew how to use them effectively.
KASI translated to English means “township” – a concept the brand strives to embody with a unique, aesthetically urban twist.
“The idea behind [the label] was to create a brand that would represent the people,” Ncise said. “The way they dress, walk, talk, their attitude and everything that is ‘kasi’.”
However, the line of sweaters, beanies, T-shirts and other casual garments did not start out as a business idea.
“Turning [KASI] into a business wasn’t really part of the plan,” Ncise said. The first few KASI T-shirts were made by the entrepreneur for himself last year, as he struggled to find shirts in commercial stores that suited his taste.
But after more and more people started noticing his designs, he decided to turn KASI into a bona fide business. The young entrepreneur proceeded to register his label and used his savings to invest in his business.
By the end of last year, after being featured in the Mr and Miss NMMU pageant, KASI’s popularity had grown to the extent that Ncise found the pressures of being a full-time student and business owner too much and called on his close friend, Lavela Kali, to join KASI as his partner. KASI will be launching a new range in August.
ý Search for KASI on Facebook or Twitter @KasiWear .
MISTY GARB
WHEN Leah van Wyk noticed a gap in the market, she drew on her love of vintage clothing and began importing beautiful coats to the Bay.
She and a business partner, who prefers to remain anonymous, launched Misty Garb – an online store selling imported coats and locally sourced accessories – in March.
“Many people do not know where to source vintage clothing in Port Elizabeth,” Van Wyk said.
“[We] saw an opportunity to become the medium through which the public can enjoy and become part of the vintage culture.”
Sarina Engelbrecht assisted in creating their online graphics, and the cost-free platform of social media allowed the young entrepreneurs to save money and launch Misty Garb successfully.
That is not to say it was not hard work though. Funding came from their own pockets and they saved until they knew they had enough to present the idea to the public.
Their items are available online to Port Elizabeth residents only but Van Wyk and her partner have plans to expand the brand in the near future.
ý Find Misty Garb on Facebook, or on Instagram @mistygarb.
SLOPPY SECONDS TEXTBOOKS
LIKE many students, Peter John Yuill, a full-time student at the Nelson Mandela Metro- politan University (NMMU), became frustrated earlier this year with the hassle of buying and selling second-hand textbooks.
And so Sloppy Seconds Textbooks was born.
Yuill approached his friend, law student Steve Dent, and girlfriend, Computer Science and Information Systems Masters student Maxine Esterhuyse.
The three proved to be a winning combination.
Dent set up a meeting with young web designer Ben Price and things moved fairly quickly, with their website having gone live last week.
“We are all driven and have a knack for knowing whether an idea will work,” Yuill said.
ý Find Sloppy Seconds Textbooks on Facebook or visit www.sloppyseconds.co.za.