Amakipkip came and people embraced it. So was the case for other labels such as CashTime Life, Ellesse and nowadays there is Supreme.

All these labels are popular amongst the youth in Zimbabwe but sadly, they are foreign, meaning they suck money out of the country.

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This trend is most likely going to continue as local designers find it too expensive to produce trending designs with imported fabrics.

However, in the midst of all these challenges, one young man and his team are determined to change the status quo.

By using the few resources at their disposal, S.o.G Clothing has become a force to reckon with in the fashion sector.

We have seen a number of prominent folks, ranging from musicians, models and socialites rocking exquisite jackets, caps, hoodies and many other things from the label’s range and it is obvious the lads are onto something big!

We caught up with the designers and they shared with us how the journey began.

“S.o.G Clothing Company was founded by myself, John Tendai Mazhinye a.k.a Designer Jay-Tee in 2013, through the music I used to do, which was Christian Hip-Hop,” shared the entrepreneur.

“The name S.o.G (Saints of God) was the name of my then hip-hop group which I founded, consisting of three other members. I got a logo designed by one of the members of the group and printed my first T-shirt with my stage name at the back which was General Jay-Tee,” he narrated.

Zaza in S.o.G. Clothing

Mazhinye highlighted that many people loved this tees and started requesting to buy their own, and that was the birth of S.o.G Clothing company.

“I used the profits to design other products like bucket hats, snapbacks, caps, designer t-shirts, hoodies, and woolen hats branded with the S.o.G logo.”

Having conquered in that space, Mazhinye crossed over and started making African print outfits.

“Later on I started designing African print outfits on paper, giving a tailor to make my design into clothes using my fabric choices (since I was not yet able to design and tailor fabrics). I would wear the designs branded with my logo and people loved them then started pressing order for theirs,” he shared.

Since its birth the company has grown in leaps and bounds – today they now even do work for corporates.

They also make designer outfits for weddings as well as school uniforms.

He continued: “I have managed to employ three more people. I personally focus on coming up with designs for our clients. For instance, I designed the A.I (Africa Inspired) jackets and the MOC (Men of Class) & WOC (Women of Class) African outfits. I am also looking forward to doing more designs in the near future.”

How profitable is the business though?

“In 2018 when the economy was stable, S.o.G Clothing Company grew and increased in capacity. We acquired more machines and moved to a bigger operating space which we have currently outgrown.

“During that year we did up to 40 different wedding orders, five corporate orders and several other individual orders plus retail of our ready-made products.

“This year business has not been the same because of the severe economic instability so we have not managed to increase capacity and our profits have decreased significantly over these past months,” he revealed.

Despite the adverse operating conditions prevailing in the motherland, the 25-year-old designer remains determined to make it big in the future.

“My vision with the company is to turn it into a world-class designer house whose products will be exported to other countries and be worn in first world countries competing with the bigger brands.

“I also look forward to S.o.G Clothing Company building its own fabric manufacturing plant here in Zimbabwe and opening shops all over the country and beyond thus creating employment and giving back to the community,” said Mazhinye.