Mswenko Sneakers founder Kabelo Selekolo joins us for a little chat. With a background in photography, Kabelo, 32, always strived to make sure he hustled his way up the ladder. On the chat with him we hear about his journey of hard work that led to the establishment of Mswenko Footwear in late 2022.
Before we get started with you, please name any of your Mzansi favourite brand and why that brand? “One of them is Loxion Kulca, that brand is an example of black excellence in its truest form – it’s the consistency and resilience that have kept the brand alive and celebrated to this day. Through unwavering dedication, Kasi gents have crafted a brand that has withstood the test of time and kept its promises to its customers. When people doubt the power of self-made success, Loxion Kulca is the very example we point to of a brand built from the ground up.
Secondly, I'm a huge fan of MoFaya for a very personal reason. I grew up in a home in which I was responsible for restocking and reselling drinks and alcohol at age 10 - I'd have to push a wheelbarrow to the supermarket to get the stock. It never occurred to me that a boy who looks like me could one day aspire to own and manufacture his own product - a beverage with his own brand. The success of MoFaya is something I cannot help but laud and support.
These are what make the two brands so special. They serve as a reminder that anything is possible despite of where you come from”.
What inspired you to start your own brand? “It goes back to 2014 when I got my first job where I bought a pair of sneakers every month. Since I was a jogging enthusiast at that time, I realized that all my sneakers were made specifically for a specific occasion and type of outfit, and they couldn't be worn casually and for jogging. I thought it would be interesting to create footwear that is versatile and convenient because I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I dismissed the idea not having the funds or knowing much about the fashion industry. However, after seeing guys who looked like me do it, I realized that it was time to make my long lost dream come true”.
Why the name Mswenko Footwear, and what do you want it to communicate to the public? “In South Africa, the term Mswenko is a popular expression for the word swag, which refers to the way a person dresses, the way they talk, and the way they act. My goal was to come up with a name that people will be familiar with, easy to pronounce, short for pronouncing, and is easily recognizable.
We seek to inspire people to be different in a way that's best for them. We encourage them to debunk social norms and stand out from the crowd. We say SwenkaKaWena and Be Different”.
What are some of the challenges you faced when you started with Mswenko footwear and how did you overcome those? “After the conceiving of Mswenko in December of 2021, I overindulged in research and sketches. My plan was to start with 50 pairs and then gradually increase production as demand increased. I was unaware that manufacturers do not operate that way. To partner with a well-experienced and trusted shoe-making company, you have to be willing to adhere to their minimum order quantity, which can vary from 500 to 1000 pairs per order depending on the design and company policies.
As you can imagine, a minimum order quantity of such big numbers don’t come cheap, and as result I found myself having to ask for money from family members, my partner and also resort to personal loans”.
What have been the highlights of your shoe brand thus far? “As of 18 October 2022, Mswenko Footwear has been in existence for 3 months. I can't begin to list the milestones we've achieved in such a short period of time, such as getting interviewed by Daily Sun the day after we launched, making sales the same day we launched, having celebrities endorsing our brand, such as ‘Sambulo’ from The Wife, The Soil Group, and ‘Shoki’ from House of Zwide, just to name a few. Brand awareness has increased by over 1 million impressions. Our customers in various provinces have been extremely positive and we are grateful for their support”.
Lastly, when not busy pushing the brand – what do you do to keep sane? “Besides watching movies that make me fall asleep midway through, my wife plans outings for us about every other week, and those usually end up being a great thing for me in terms of retaining my sanity”.