Local Clothing Brand GMPR Goes International

Proudly Namibian clothing brand ‘God. Money. Power. Respect’ (GMPR) is making waves both locally and internationally, capturing attention with its bold message and unique designs.

Founded by Gustav Johannes (26) in August 2019 after printing his own T-shirt, the brand has reached clients in China, South Africa, Singapore, Cuba, Ghana, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Botswana.

“Initially, I printed a personal T-shirt with the words ‘God. Money. Power. Respect’ without the intention of starting a brand. However, the shirt drew attention both in person and on social media, prompting inquiries about where it can be bought,” Johannes says.

Encouraged by the interest, he conducted a poll on his social media page, promising to start selling the shirts if he received more than 20 votes.

The response exceeded expectations, and GMPR was eventually born.

Apart from that, Johannes says the idea was fuelled by a personal belief.

“If people see what I see in myself, then it’s greatness,” he says.

The public’s positive reaction to the shirt inspired him to scale the idea, anticipating the impact if more people wore it.

GMPR is solely founded by Johannes, who has since exported more than 3 000 T-shirts internationally while featuring seven distinct designs.

Emphasising the importance of innovation, he says each design offers a fresh look to keep clients engaged.

Johannes says he never thought he would end up in fashion.

His childhood dream was to become a lawyer, a goal he’s still pursuing, he says.

However, his love for looking good and dressing well naturally aligned with the fashion world.

“I’ve always been that guy. I love looking good, and to keep GMPR relevant, I continuously revamp designs and ensure premium packaging. I believe local brands often fade due to a lack of innovation,” he says.

Johannes was born and raised at Walvis Bay. He attended Narraville Primary School and later Kuisebmond Secondary School. After failing Grade 10, he repeated it at Tutaleni High School, where he completed Grade 12 and served as head boy.

He is now pursuing a diploma in local government and is currently completing his LLB degree at the University of Namibia.

According to Johannes, running a business hasn’t been without challenges.

“One major hurdle was relying on others for branding, which sometimes delayed deliveries and affected customer satisfaction. I overcame this by learning to brand my own clothes and opening my own printing shop, ensuring faster turnaround and quality control.

“Initially, my target market was friends and family, but the brand’s powerful message began attracting a broader audience. Many clients discovered GMPR simply by seeing someone wearing it and asking where they could buy it. To date, I have sold over 3 000 shirts across various countries,” he says.

Looking ahead, Johannes envisions GMPR in a clothing store within the next five years.

While the specifics are still unfolding, he hopes the brand would operate independently and continue to grow.

When not managing orders or running Panustos Trading CC, Johannes immerses himself in legal studies.

He reads cases and stays updated on developments in the legal field, reminding himself that his dream is to become a lawyer.

“Business is unpredictable,” he says. “We need something solid to fall back on when things go south.”

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