Building Namibian Brands

Namibia may not be a fashion powerhouse yet but there are a few bright sparks that make it possible to expect only great things from the country’s fashion scene.

Namibian street wear brands are especially doing well, with some of them being so recognisable that they are bound to be great conversation starters wherever you find yourself.

The biggest brand in the country, Mshasho has come from humble beginnings to be the country’s most popular. As he grew as an artist, so did The Dogg grow Mshasho into an easily recognisable brand with the popular tagline: ‘It’s not just a brand. It’s a lifestyle’. From t-shirts, caps, bucket hats, sweaters, track pants and even shorts, you can find almost anything to wear with a Mshasho label. Besides clothing, Mshasho also boasts an eyewear range, sneakers, perfume, chains and even plastic shopping bags with the famous branding. The popularity of Mshasho has led to off shoots like Doooof, 3545 and Pakamish which fans wear with pride.

To keep to the momentum of the brand’s meteoric rise, a Mshasho apparel shop recently opened at Maroela Mall in Ongwediva, where all Msahasho products can be found under one roof. Here, one can find items that cost anything from N$20 to N$850.

This brainchild of award-winning kwaito artist Ees is probably the best representation of the old adage ‘local is lekker’. The high top sneaker with a Namibian flag printed on it is right at the top of the best brands you could gift your feet. Hip, colourful and stylish, the Nam Flava sneaker should find its way to your closet if it’s not already there. Ees has, like all other artists, tried his hand at t-shirts but none have reached the level of the Nam Flava sneaker. This funky shoe can be found at Cymot stores and is also delivered to your doorstep if you can get hold of globe-trotting Ees. At only N$370 a pair, these kicks make us so proud to be Namibian.

An abbreviation of Gazza Music Production, GMP is not one of the most visible brands but it has its own following who love it. The brand was particularly popular last winter with its leather inspired joggers and sweaters. A stronger online presence will go a long way in making GMP more visible.

We picked these youthful brands as our top picks for brands to watch. Although fairly new, they have started on a good note and their merchandise is on trend with many youngsters taking note. We hope both Kontrol and RFC will be around for much longer and not die a quick death like many upcoming brands.

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