Rewind...
Oh my word, memories are captured in ways one forgets sometimes.I came across this articles that was done on me and my long long lost Fashion line "PHAT" by CPT STREET MAGAZINE (http://www.cptstreetmag.com/phat%20by%20owethu%20mentoor%20full.html) and I am astonished by what I wanted in life and how I have grown. This post is just a reminder that your past will always reflect with your future:
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO FASHION?
OWETHU: Fashion has been part of my life for ages, fashion is the language speak, the sound that plays in my soul and it’s my life! There nothing else that im capable of doing than making clothes!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MADE YOU TO SPECIALISE IN WOMEN’S WEAR?
OWETHU: I want to make women feel empowered and of course still feel sexy in what they wear. I grew up with a single mother who is my aunt and what she taught me throughout my 18 years on earth is the reason why im doing what im doing now
CPTSTREETMAG: AS A YOUNG BLACK DESIGNER IN CPT DO U FEEL U HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY?
OWETHU: Of course I feel as if I have to work hard in order to be given recognition, I might be 18 and young but I’ve seen how Capetonian young designers are treated, you have to be in Joburg in order to get the recognition of what you want to do and that’s why I feel that we as capetonian young designers have to try and build relationships with each other.
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MAKES YOUR LABEL DIFFERENT FROM ALL THOSE OUT THERE?
OWETHU: My label consists of clothing that every black person is scared of wearing just because they are scared of being judged. I feel that we have to be able to explore our horizons in order to be recognised as fashion fanatics. The clothing has very subtle rock influences which will blow people away.
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS WHEN YOU DESIGN?
OWETHU: I’m inspired by what I see daily, everywhere I go, the people that I see, even street kids sometimes give me inspiration with their hobo look!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO LAUNCH YOUR LABEL NOW, EVEN BEFORE YOU’VE COMPLETED YOUR COURSE?
OWETHU: I want to show young adults that if you really are passionate about what you want to do or be, go for it if you see an opportunity. I want to show them that, yes school is the most important thing that one has to achieve but you also have to work hard in order for that piece or paper to mean something!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT TO DATE AS A DESIGNER?
OWETHU: Seeing what I’ve designed coming alive right in front of my eyes and that S.A is becoming one of the world fashion capitals!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU SEE AHEAD FOR YOU? AND HOW DO U PLAN ON CONQUERING THEM?
OWETHU: The fact that I’m doing all this alone, but with the help from friends, family and also instant grass with sponsors. There have been days that I just want to scream out loud and cry, but things are going pretty well now and hopefully everything is going to go according to plan!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE "SKINNY' DILEMMA IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
OWETHU:Hahaha, skinnies to me are the world’s best creation for now, they will always be in the fashion industry whether we like it or not, people just have to accept it and rock them out with their own style.
CPTSTREETMAG:WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF, AND YOUR LABEL IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
OWETHU:WOW, that question is so simple but yet one cannot really answer it, but I’ll try. I want me, myself and PhAT to be in a secured environment, see people wearing my clothes to awards and coming to me and telling me what a difference I have made to their lifestyles!!!
by: SOMAJAH
PHAT by Owethu
10 Qs with Owethu Mentoor creater and head designer of PHAT.CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO FASHION?
OWETHU: Fashion has been part of my life for ages, fashion is the language speak, the sound that plays in my soul and it’s my life! There nothing else that im capable of doing than making clothes!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MADE YOU TO SPECIALISE IN WOMEN’S WEAR?
OWETHU: I want to make women feel empowered and of course still feel sexy in what they wear. I grew up with a single mother who is my aunt and what she taught me throughout my 18 years on earth is the reason why im doing what im doing now
CPTSTREETMAG: AS A YOUNG BLACK DESIGNER IN CPT DO U FEEL U HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY?
OWETHU: Of course I feel as if I have to work hard in order to be given recognition, I might be 18 and young but I’ve seen how Capetonian young designers are treated, you have to be in Joburg in order to get the recognition of what you want to do and that’s why I feel that we as capetonian young designers have to try and build relationships with each other.
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MAKES YOUR LABEL DIFFERENT FROM ALL THOSE OUT THERE?
OWETHU: My label consists of clothing that every black person is scared of wearing just because they are scared of being judged. I feel that we have to be able to explore our horizons in order to be recognised as fashion fanatics. The clothing has very subtle rock influences which will blow people away.
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS WHEN YOU DESIGN?
OWETHU: I’m inspired by what I see daily, everywhere I go, the people that I see, even street kids sometimes give me inspiration with their hobo look!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO LAUNCH YOUR LABEL NOW, EVEN BEFORE YOU’VE COMPLETED YOUR COURSE?
OWETHU: I want to show young adults that if you really are passionate about what you want to do or be, go for it if you see an opportunity. I want to show them that, yes school is the most important thing that one has to achieve but you also have to work hard in order for that piece or paper to mean something!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT TO DATE AS A DESIGNER?
OWETHU: Seeing what I’ve designed coming alive right in front of my eyes and that S.A is becoming one of the world fashion capitals!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU SEE AHEAD FOR YOU? AND HOW DO U PLAN ON CONQUERING THEM?
OWETHU: The fact that I’m doing all this alone, but with the help from friends, family and also instant grass with sponsors. There have been days that I just want to scream out loud and cry, but things are going pretty well now and hopefully everything is going to go according to plan!
CPTSTREETMAG: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE "SKINNY' DILEMMA IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
OWETHU:Hahaha, skinnies to me are the world’s best creation for now, they will always be in the fashion industry whether we like it or not, people just have to accept it and rock them out with their own style.
CPTSTREETMAG:WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF, AND YOUR LABEL IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
OWETHU:WOW, that question is so simple but yet one cannot really answer it, but I’ll try. I want me, myself and PhAT to be in a secured environment, see people wearing my clothes to awards and coming to me and telling me what a difference I have made to their lifestyles!!!
by: SOMAJAH
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