Born-and-bred in the township of Zola in Soweto, clothing entrepreneur Xolani Sibiya has set his sights on collaborating with lucrative shoe brands Drip Footwear and Bathu Shoes.
Sibiya, 39, is the founder, owner and creative director of Spoiled Brat Clothing, a local clothing brand he started in 2015.
The businessman markets his business on various social media platforms and sells his clothes from his home in Zola. The clothing items that he sells include T-shirts, vests, sweaters, caps, beanies, shorts, tracksuits and ladies’ dresses.
Sibiya said his passion for selling clothes was inspired by his mother who is a dressmaker.
“My mother is a dressmaker. She is a designer. I got the passion from her. Besides that, during my tertiary days I used to wear local brands such as Loxion Kulca and Magents. Brands like Loxion Kulca inspired me to start my own clothing label,” said Sibiya.
Sibiya also sells his apparel at flea market events. He has two people who assist him with the sales when he is selling his items at the flea markets. The most recent flea market Sibiya sold at was on Sunday at the Sunday Foodies Market on Chris Hani Road in Tshiawelo, Soweto.
He also sells his gear at Kofifi Café in Protea North, Soweto, on Saturdays.
Sibiya, who holds a diploma in media studies specialising in radio production and advertising from Boston Media House in Sandton, said his best-selling item is his T-shirts.
He is grateful that his clothing brand has grown in a short space of time.
“During the first three years the business was going slow. The reason is because between 2010 and 2014 I was selling different T-shirts compared to now. I was selling T-shirts branded with the names ‘Tsotsi Yase Zola Kas’lam’. People took time to adjust and accept the new idea and the new route I was taking. Some people were not familiar with the cartoon image on the T-shirts.
“So, during the first years of the business I would sell 20 T-shirts in a week for R200. But between 2018 and 2021 my business started doing well and I would sell more than 10 per day, despite the Covid-19 lockdown the country was in,” said Sibiya.
“I am grateful for the love and support that people are showing the brand. I believe I still have more to offer when it comes to the Spoiled Brat Clothing brand. Hopefully, by next year I want to extend the brand to making flip-flops, socks and more items.”
He said a Good Samaritan who goes by the name of Mike lent him R5,000 to start his clothing enterprise.
Sibiya has two graphic designers who assist him with the designing of his clothing brand. He said he receives orders nationally but mostly from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Sibiya said his future plan is to expand his business across SA.
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