TM Clothing Line For The Sporty

For many people, sport is not only a form of leisure but a very important aspect of their daily lives. For the sports enthusiast who also loves looking good, sportswear plays an important role to feel as attractive as possible.

TM Clothing Line, a proudly Namibian project, was founded by model, fashion designer and founder of the Katutura Fashion Week (KFW) Dennis Hendricks and Mike Nghipunya, an actor and group chief executive officer at the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia.

The business, which sells sports gear and casual wear, was started in 2016 and officially launched in 2017. Since it started, the brand has attended some of the biggest fashion showcases such as Lagos Fashion Week, Zambia Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and locally graced the stage at the first-ever Katutura Fashion Week in Windhoek.

“We believe that TM Clothing Line is so much more than just a brand. It is the centrepiece of a thoughtful sport brand. It’s for both young and old, male or female. We designed the outfits so that anyone who wears it feels good and can be proud knowing that it is a local brand,” Hendricks says.

Hendricks says when they started the clothing line, they were inspired by Namibia’s weather. “Our brand is the perfect choice in winter, summer, autumn and spring. We are your all-season clothing choice. We are about connecting with people from all walks of life,” he says.

Nghipunya says they are currently hard at work with preparations to showcase at the second edition of Seychelles Fashion Week, taking place from 28 November to 1 December. After that, they are headed to Swahili Fashion Week from 6 to 8 December.

Nghipunya adds they enjoy exhibiting at various fashion events because it is a great platform for them to showcase their work to a bigger audience.

“The world gets to see the latest in fashion and what other countries are offering. This is a huge market and by attending, I have noticed that we always tend to grow and get recognised. We also gain the right knowledge and skills that can pave a bright and successful career.”

He says they are also currently busy with plans to expand the brand outside the country. “We are looking at countries such as Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa and the US.”

One of the challenges they face in the industry is a lack of support. “One day your sales are good and next day it is difficult to sell anything. At the end, it is a crazy and beautiful industry,” he says.

Hendricks says he is pleased to see that the Namibian fashion industry is growing each year but expresses disappointment at the fact that many designers don’t want to work together.

“We need to unite as one. Everyone must become a key role player to build this big parcel in our country. It is all up to us to grow the sector.”

Nghipunya says some of the benefits of being a fashion designer include travelling, having fun and having a platform to be creative. He advises upcoming designers who want to make a success of their careers to think like an entrepreneur: Start small, focus on one product, set up a website and have a vision for your brand.

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