FUTURISTIC, VERSITILE AS WELL AS CLASSIC.

T- Michael of Norwegian Rain in his Ted talk feature talked about his philosophy which is “In order to get ahead in life one should get their skills right”. This was all under a topic called “stick to the plot”. He said this following phrase, maybe twice throughout the interview “ Everyone has a baseline and your baseline must be unique or even better than the next person: now If you try and do something like someone else you will never get there and you will always play catch up”. Now, with this said welcome to the Q&A session with Katlego Ashwin Masilela, the co founder of Street Garage.

Q: Full names
A: Katlego Ashwin Masilela

Q: Place of Birth
A: Emalahleni

Q: Current City
A: Emalahleni

Q: Please tell me a little more about yourself?
A: Walking Fashion Week

Q: What is your greatest strength?
A: Having to prepare for fashion events to dress myself, since we barely have those in the city
anymore. I just find it easy to prepare crazy ensembles for events I enjoy attending.

Q: What are your weaknesses?
A: Procrastination is my ultimate weakness and depending on people who seem interested in
build my dream, when the only person who can make things happen is myself.

Q: How did your passion for clothes come into existence?
A: Growing up, my mother had a hair studio in our garage and people who would come get their hair done were basically people who had weddings and stuff to attend, whereas initially my mother has been a fashion killer ever since I can recall cause she was the ultimate master when it comes to preparing for a weddings and award ceremonies at work or even after having a studio so It is safe to say she has been the driving force behind all of it.

Q: Who are your influences?
A: My guardian angel , who is my mother is the biggest influence because I grew up watching her make the most out of nothing and end up looking way better than people we now had everything, so basically anyone confident enough to be themselves also their ability to create something unique and very fashionable.

Q: What inspires your type style? Or how would you describe it?
A: Just like music, I have got a favorite genre that I relate to concurrently which is hip hop. I do have appreciation for other genres because you can’t take away beautiful production or vocals from a song merely because you don’t relate to it, so my style is inspired by what I’m exposed to plus a great touch of style that has personal signatures which can be declared : VERSATILE,ELEGANT AND STREET.

Q: How would you describe your brand? And who have you been honored to collaborate with or anyone you would like to collaborate with?
A: HIGH END STREET FASHION is what the brand is all about, design and brand not buy and brand, I am one part of the this brand alongside a very bright , young and fashion inspired dandy lad called Floyd Jele. Our last showcase was at the TAGG INN fashion show alongside other creatives like NHLANDO MAHLANGU of Deep & Personal, for future collaboration we are looking at BROMMANDO and GEMSTONE two dope local brands and a bunch from out of town and not to give away too much.

Q: What style advice can you give to men when it comes to putting an outfit together in terms of everyday wear?
A: Comfort ability, perfect fit and extra ordinary color combination, and dress to impress you first and if you approve and feel good about it besides others will catch on at the end. Confirmation shouldn’t matter too much; it should only be about how you feel about your combination.

Q: What would say is the difference between fashion and style?
A: Fashion is the armor that helps us to survive the reality of everyday life. Style is personality and fantasy that brings FASHION to life so Fashion without personal extras is dead.

Q: Three words that can best describe your style?
A: FUTURISTIC, VERSITILE AS WELL AS CLASSIC.

Q: Tell me more about your work ethics as a brand owner?
A: Realistically, it’s a very stressful process pertaining our progressive street wear brand; in terms of designing pieces, sampling then advertising and the ability moreover the compatibility to supply the demand created through advertising. The is also the factor of seasonal merchandise to maintain the HIGH END FASHION status and that is not easy even while you work as a pair cause you both get swamped at times yet I still believe that you work like a slave and try to put yourself on the map and living and looking like a king of your own castle.

Q: What is Important about your brand and what do you feel is the contribution it gives to menswear in the retail industry according to you?
A: Fashion has always been the center of attention but currently it’s everything. Especially in the country. So our brand aspiration are to help grow the fashion industry in our city moving out to other parts of the entire country not just by procreation of dope designs and high fashion but also creating jobs and empowering people with skills: in the words of Nicholas Coutts (The most innovative designer young designer in the country) “fashion is nothing at all, it is not about imaging the future”.

Q: What is the target market t for your brand?
A: It’s basically youth in high schools then tertiary level to young adults who are fashion oriented and driven by looking different most of the time.

Q: How do you attract, engage and motivate the costumer towards making a purchase?
A: The only way to get consumer s to buy your merchandise is if you wear it well and advertise your stuff in terms of a look book which gives people ideas on how to kill any items they buy from you and fuse it with their personality.

Q: Where do see your brand heading?
A: Taking it to the top floor Bro, so many plans and so many ideas, plugs and 2020 vision, so be on the look up we are moving up.

Q: Where do you spend the most time in your current city?
A: At the mall, Thrift stores, out at public bars and events just lurking and looking at how people perceive our work and networking with like minded people and trying to feed of different ideas and energies so It’s safe to say we are all over the city.

Q: Plans for you in the next five years?
A: Image consultation, styling, personal shopping, greater form of advertising thus putting our brand on the map and being able to constantly supply the demand we have already created. Empowering other skilled Younging and changing the whole fashion industry in the city and our country so that the city can be put on the map.

Q: What is the one thing that you would like to say to the World?
A: That it isn’t over until it’s actually the beginning. We are learning from mistakes and making public corrections in terms of everything because we represent the culture.

Q: Current projects
A: .Less announcements and more moves, as much as I feel like it’s obvious but all I am saying is we are working hard.

Q: Only a person can clearly explain their vision, objectives ....what are yours?
A: It’s basically seeing drastic changes in the fashion industry by fighting and working hard to materialize everything young designers pray that the world gets to see their creations and embrace it and confidently so. The main objective is to always remember why we are going through all of this trouble creating this type of art in the first place. (We do it for the love of threads).

Q: How would you classify the type of work that you do concerning your brand?
A: Sharing my dreams and vision with world through my designs and fashion sense.

Q: Name of your brand
A: Street Garage Apparel
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