While others completely give up on their dreams, some would not let go until they attain the dream. Aobakwe Nthoyiwa is one of those strong, passionate, and resilient creatives who never let their dreams go down the drain.
This is evident because after his brand dubbed Retro Evolution, in which he had partnered with a junior school friend failed, he decided to go solo and start his own brand called Renegade Apparel.
He said Renegade Apparel focuses on streetwear. “Renegade Apparel was born after deserting my former brand to strive for art and share true art with Batswana. On November 2020, Renegade Apparel was born and I started hyping the name the whole of November till December when we first produced our clothing line which was named the Butterfly Effect and trended from 2020-2021 around April non-stop. We started getting huge recognition from social media both on Facebook and Instagram.
Art is a movement and is therapeutic,” he said. Nthoyiwa said they wanted to produce clothes that are not just beautiful when worn but make the art part of their clients. He added that they want their fans and customers to relate to the art. He pointed out they wanted to create a bond between people and the art they produce through clothing. As Renegade Apparel, he said they focused on therapeutic art, adding that they wanted their design to touch souls more than the clothes looking good on them.
He added that they wanted their customers to embrace the art because they were not just buying clothing but buying part of the soul, heart, and mind of the designer they used for art to vent to the world and help those who are also going through a dark time. Speaking of the local fashion industry, he said it was tough because they do not get the support, funds needed, and sometimes the proper advertisements. “We also noticed that we have local brands that lack unity. All we do is want to be at the top alone.
There is too much competition which makes the local fashion industry suffer but looking at the fashion industry of Botswana, we have a lot of talent that needs motivation. We have the talent to take Botswana's fashion and clothing line industry far. “Local fashion that inspires me the most is Urban Soul because it is a local brand that grows every day not only in Botswana but around Africa.
They motivate me. I also aspire to touch the whole world with art through fashion and clothing,” he said. Nthoyiwa further pointed out that there were ups and downs in their business saying they do not get support from both customers and fans, and they sometimes end up having breakdowns that hinder the production of art or delay it. Lack of motivation causes a lack of the right energy or hype to motivate them to design a dope piece of clothing. He added that lack of capital was also a drawback.
The young designer said he has learned that for one to succeed in the fashion industry, he or she has to be humble. He added that being a designer taught him communication skills and how to interact with people, not only customers but also others in the business world. He said in his line of work, patience is key so is trusting in the process. He said he learned not to be moved by competition because it makes one lose focus. “I see Renegade Apparel breaking the fashion world with designer clothing, bringing peace to the individuals.
I see Renegade Apparel's worldwide collaboration with big brands trying to spread art through fashion. I see us having branches everywhere spreading Botswana’s talent not only in the fashion industry but also on other platforms,” he stated. He further explained that his designs are artistic and dope. He said the design was his shoulder to cry on because it has motivated him to rise, level up, and brought back joy to his life. He likened himself to a half moon saying he will grow into a full moon someday. He explained that the butterflies they used on his clothing line reflected joy, adding that he believes great things were ahead.
