22 Jun DENIM PALACE: The Royal Staple
There is a little known fact about the actual origin of the word denim. The name is derived from French serge de Nimes, meaning ‘serge from Nimes’. Before I bore you further on Etymology and origin, it’s best I join the fashion world and their appreciation of how far denim has come since it gained its humble popularity in 1873. Jacob W. Davis, a tailor from Nevada, manufactured a pair of reinforced jeans to meet the need for more durable clothes for Western labourers. Fast forward two centuries, to say denim is popular, is an understatement.
Thanks to the development of fabric technology, it has become comfortable enough to be a staple everyday item in almost every closet. Set to generate a global revenue worth $79.2 billion by 2023 according to P&S Market Research. Back home, In South Africa’s online fashion community, the reigning Jean Queen has innovatively taken a sweet piece of the pie! We sit down with Nwabisa Ntlokwana who started her online trendy denim thrift shop that has changed the way local street style and fashion consumers alike, view thrifted denim jeans.
There is a little known fact about the actual origin of the word denim. The name is derived from French serge de Nimes, meaning ‘serge from Nimes’. Before I bore you further on Etymology and origin, it’s best I join the fashion world and their appreciation of how far denim has come since it gained its humble popularity in 1873. Jacob W. Davis, a tailor from Nevada, manufactured a pair of reinforced jeans to meet the need for more durable clothes for Western labourers. Fast forward two centuries, to say denim is popular, is an understatement.
Thanks to the development of fabric technology, it has become comfortable enough to be a staple everyday item in almost every closet. Set to generate a global revenue worth $79.2 billion by 2023 according to P&S Market Research. Back home, In South Africa’s online fashion community, the reigning Jean Queen has innovatively taken a sweet piece of the pie! We sit down with Nwabisa Ntlokwana who started her online trendy denim thrift shop that has changed the way local street style and fashion consumers alike, view thrifted denim jeans.
Coastal Biz: Nwabisa, thank you so much for your time, we at Coastal Biz love your innovation and amongst other things, whether you are aware of it or not, your business’s contribution towards recycling fabric and creating good quality and economically valuable products for your clients is commendable.
Nwabisa: Thank you…
CB: When and how did you get started?
N: I actually got started in 2015. I love thrifting and I used to travel a lot at my previous job. One of my favourite things to do was to look for second hand stores whenever I travelled. I’d buy clothes and just create my own look. One of my favourite items to buy was denim… my friends would
always compliment me on what a great eye I had for denim. Then I started buying denim for them. I realised I could actually make money out of this and the rest is history…
CB: How important is Social Media to your business and why?
N: Social Media is very important to my brand and my business because that is how I get my customers. I use social media for my marketing, it’s the primary way I get to engage with my customers. It was also a natural progression for me to follow. I was so inspired by these fashion bloggers I used to follow and I knew I could do it too! That’s just how I became an online business.
B: What drives you?
N: What drives me?… uh, what drives me is the Money, boo! Hahaha… seriously, I want that money. Also when I get lazy on some days I look outside my window and I see David Tlale working and I’m like, man that’s just depressing. He’s at the top of his game and he’s still working so hard, like, what am I doing with my life?
CB: How has the Covid19 pandemic affected you and the online fashion community? N: It has affected me financially because I get my stock from overseas and since they shut down the boarders I’m stuck with my old stock and I can’t fully function to the max with this stock…. And I’m just nervous. I’m just not fully functional. I can’t take orders and make money.
CB: How would you describe your work psychology and how do you make it work for you?
N: So because I work from home I had to sit down and come up with a strategy as to how I could balance my work and personal life. It was important that I treat my business as a 9-5. I had to come up with working hours and stipulate exactly what I was going to do within that time, in order for me to be productive. I can’t just chill. Also, creating a beautiful and inspiring live-work space is important for me to stay inspired as a creator.
CB: How are you using the time that you have right now?
N: Well it’s winter in Joburg I’ve stocked up on warm, dope, affordable trench coats.
CB: What can we expect from Denim Palace when the phases ease up?
N: I’m working on something right now, maybe a sister store…. Keep an eye out…
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