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The Fou r t h Issue
I am MY FASHION
I am WHAT I fancy
Johanni Jordaan gives us insight into Social media markerting professionals, Bec her designs which are reminders of the & Marissa Karagiorgos share insight into EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE beautiful details that life has to offer. their personal style and being a woman.
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EDITÉUR STAFF
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EDITORS
LEEROY ESBEND & ESTER CHARLOTTE
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
LEEROY ESBEND & ESTER CHARLOTTE
ART DIRECTORS
LEEROY ESBEND & ESTER CHARLOTTE
TEAM MEMBERS
ANGIE MOTHUPI ASHLEY ELS FRANCOIS SWANEPOEL STEPHAN WEILBACH DANIEL CLOCKSIN
CONTRIBUTORS
WINILE NZALO, JOHANNI JORDAAN, LEANNE TLHAGOANE, TWICE BLESSED, GWEN MLONDOBOZI, PUNO SELESHO, YETU DADA, JOSHUA MCQUIRK, UNSPLASH SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM: @EDITEUR_PLUS TWITTER: @EDITEUR_PLUS FACEBOOK: EDITÉUR PLUS LOCATION
SOUTH AFRICA WEBSITE
WWW.EDITEURPLUS.CO.ZA
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STAFF
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EDITOR’S LETTER Leeroy Esbend & Ester Charlotte
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HERSTORY Puno Selesho
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WINILE NZALO Stephan Weilbach
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JOHANNI JORDAAN
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Francois Swanepoel
GIRL IN THE MIRROR Gwen Mlondobozi
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LEANNE TLHAGOANE
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Ashley Els
DAUGHTER Puno Selesho
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TWICE BLESSED
Daniel Clocksin
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I FEEL LIKE GOING ON
Gwen Mlondobozi
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CONTACT US
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EDITOR’S LETTER Greetings and a very warm welcome to the fourth issue of Editéur Plus online magazine. We would like to thank all the amazing people who have supported us. If this is your first time reading Editéur Plus, welcome. We’re a minimalist online magazine that features artists in all fields. This is our first women’s issue and we would like to celebrate women and their successes. We are reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” and in this we want to encourage all woman to feel empowered to step out and follow their heart. Be sure to check out the social media contacts of our many contributors. We encourage you to engage with them. We are grateful for all who have contributed to this issue, we value your work immensely. To all our readers, feel free to connect with us on social media, see the last page for details. Welcome to Editéur Plus “L’inspiration à travers la vision.”
Leeroy Esbend & Ester Charlotte EDITORS EDITÉUR
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HERSTORY Dear girl, remember your start. Remember your Eden. At the center, a redemption tree, mighty, sturdy and burly. Beneath the branches, is a seat for the world to come humbly and soak in your presence, your essence as it rolls down from each leaf, carried to the ground on wisps of wind. Oh, how whimsical you are! Dear girl Remember your story.
Like Ruth, she won’t be loud, but she will patiently wait, with the stillness of mist. She will wait at your feet until you see that she is worth breathing into the atmosphere, HerStory, carrying in it the golden thread of God’s glory.
Girl in your tale, Be defiant about your identity, declare war on conformity and make known your rebel status. For God never once promised you the safest but he promised you greatness so baby girl put on your full Armor and give us a twirl. Enjoy it! Open your petals, grand and wide and smile!
Remember your story dear girl; learn your sister’s too. Weave them together in a vibrant bright and bold tapestry and cover the world in the warm brilliance of your colourful glory.
IMAGE FROM
POETRY BY
YETU DADA
PUNO SELESHO
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WINILE NZALO ENTREPRENEUR
BY STEPHAN WEILBACH PHOTOGRAPHED BY ON TIME MEDIA
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inile owns a technology focused digital marketing company which is based in Pretoria, South Africa, with a virtual office in Sandton. Where technology and design collides is where her love lies. This comes out in everything she does; whether it’s conceptualising solutions for her clients or putting together interfaces for a client’s online presence. Diana Gordon was started out of her love for seeing woman increasing their reach online. It has turned into something beautiful and their ability to impact those around just through design has been wonderful for her. When she tried to make her own website for the very first time and accidently logged into her own back office, was when her interest in IT started. When all she could see was a bunch of code she thought to herself that her life would be much easier if she could just understand this foreign language. She then set out to learn this beautiful new language. “I love to code, I love letters and numbers that turning into the design. She explains how she was a maths geek in school and at the same time loved the arts. To her, the mash of math and design gives her goosebumps. She believes that when we can teach the younger generation that these two seemingly opposites can be intertwined we could have a very beautiful design orientated world. For her the start of her company was hectic. As an introvert, selling herself seemed a bit overbearing and showy. She felt that as an African female she was, to a certain extent, taught not to publicize her gifts and rather exercise a more bashful approach. The scariest part to her was making people believe in what she was doing and maintaining her true self at the same time.
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The positive part of being an entrepreneur is definitely being able to live in your own efforts. Its amazing to look around you and know that you have worked to afford your lifestyle and that you are building something that came out of your own hands. The freedom is also amazing, but also can play against you on the days when you feel like you wish you worked for mcdonalds because at least mcdonalds pays you on time. Another thing I love about what I do is seeing people excited about their brand and we have helped make that a reality. On the flipside to amazing clients is the odd difficult client - which as the brand grows I get less of; this is mostly because as you grow you begin to attract your perfect client.
“ Work with integrity, inspire and innovate “ WINILE NZALO
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She has actively gone against the norm of being an unorganized designer. She’s set out to plan every day. She will plan her meetings a week in advance, she makes sure she in office before 9:30. She says that unlike most designers she loves the formality of corporate spaces, therefore she made sure that her offices are in a design orientated but corporate space. Her Mondays are when she sorts through her vision for Diana Gordon, so looking at where they are going and if it still aligns with what they want to do as a company. At the moment they are building a tech school, which came from their Mondays. They are excited about this specific project as they will be giving their students courses in Computer Sciences and Design.
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er company motto is “Work with integrity, inspire and innovate.”. Winile believes that South Africa is on the brink of unlocking its true potential in tech design and she is pretty excited to be a part of it. “We truly want to leave a legacy of inspiring innovation and redeeming the identity of companies who merely need the right tools to become the best they can possibly be.” She loves reading www. theeverygirl.co.za – that’s one of the things that keeps her inspired, which to her is crucial as a female entrepreneur. She is currently reading ‘The me I want to be’ by John Orberg, which is blowing her mind and keeping her motivated. Winile explains that in starting a company, accountability is a crucial part. Being accountable to your dreams and goals helps motivate you. She says that her father Gordon Nzalo is her perfect example. If it wasn’t for her and her father’s early morning coffee meetings and all the advice he gave her, she would have never been moving so fast and going so far in what she is doing now. Her father has kept her inspired and completely connected to her goals and then “Most of all He prays with me, this is possibly the most priceless thing a daughter can share with her father.”
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WINILE NZALO WORK WITH INTEGRIT Y, INSPIRE AND IN N OVAT E
ENTREPRENEUR
WEBSITE: W W W. DI A NAG OR D ON.CO. Z A
FACEBOOK: WINILE NZALO
INSTAGRAM: @WINNIETHEBASHFUL
TWITTER: @WINILENZALO
#WINILENZALO
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I am FASHION Johanni Jordaan gives us insight into her designs which are reminders of the beautiful details that life has to offer.
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JOHANNI JORDAAN FASHION DESIGNER
BY FR A NCOIS SWA NEPOEL PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANITA ERASMUS - ANITA PHOTOGRAPHY STYLED BY HANNI DESIGNS
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Fashion has taken a great many turns in the millennia since people started wearing more than the leather skins and I am sure even those must have contained some sort of cultural esthetic, fashion is now one of the biggest industries in the world and is ever expanding to cater for the bizarre appetites and tastes that permeate the minds of people all around. Scarcely would you leave your residence without taking some time to pick your outfit based on your particular preference, especially if you’ve taken the time to read a magazine about fashion. This in no news to you, I’m sure. So how ‘bout I tell you something that maybe you didn’t know. Almost 2.56 Trillion Dollars was spent on clothing and textiles in 2010, women’s and men’s wear would have exceeded 1 Trillion Dollars in 2014, China alone processed 41.3
“ ...to make a brand that can help young woman to express themselves through the clothes they wear and add something different to the South African fashion scene. “ HANNI DESIGNS GOAL
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million metric tons of fiber (only half of the worlds fiber). To put that in perspective, that would be the same weight as more than 20 Billion of Paris Hilton’s iconic Tinkerbell Chihuahuas, that’s a lot of cloth! Soft, bright and colorful Johanni is a young and very talented Style enthusiast who takes a liking to beautiful things and making the world around her a brighter place too, just the type of person you could write a book about. Johanni has finished a degree in Consumer Science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, she says that she has always loved dressing up for occasions so that her attire matched the occasion, the environment as well as her mood. The next step, inevitably was designing her own clothes, and the next one after that was to make clothing for other people.
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ohanni started a brand called Hanni Designs just over a year ago with their main goal being to “make a brand that can help young woman to express themselves through the clothes they wear and add something different to the South African fashion scene.” Clothes that are light, lovely and delightful. “My favorite part of being a designer is having someone look at something that I designed, seeing the excitement in their faces and them telling me how beautiful it is.” Johanni draws inspiration from the faces of very happy individuals. The world is bursting at the seams with beauty everywhere we look, Johanni puts her patterns together in a way that captures some of this beauty and reminds the wearer and the those who see the garments that there is beauty to behold if we would just take the time to notice. She loves using flowy, soft and lightweight materials with floral print or bright colors and says that “You would rarely see a Hanni design in black”. To stitch it all together, Johanni wants to grow her Proudly South African organization to cater for all your wardrobe needs, your own personal shopper, stylist, make-up artist and custom tailor. Johanni believes that “Our clothes are not merely a cover, they are an outer layer with which we convey a little of the things that language could not.” Fashion, tells a story of who you are, why not tell a good one? As Harry Winston once said “People will stare. Make it worth their while.” Have a look at what she as o offer. Visit her website and see some of her designs.
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JOHANNI JORDA AN FA SHION DESIGNER
DESIGNS WHICH ARE REMINDERS OF BEAUTIFUL DETAILS THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER TO ALL WHO ARE WILLING TO NOTICE.
WEBSITE: W W W. H A N N I DE SIGN.COM
FACEBOOK: HANNI
INSTAGRAM: @HANNIDESIGNS
PINTEREST: @ HANNI
#HANNIDESIGNS
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THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR I never knew I could be defined as beautiful I have never been The right personality The right size The right colour If not colour the right shade of black See no one said what I see in the mirror could be beautiful Society has lead me to believe that Beauty can be defined Fair and light in complexion Tall and thin waist ‘d Hour glass and well balanced Long neck and visible collar bones Symmetrical face and lightly shaded eyes Yet I am not that Spotted and dark in complexion Short and no waist ‘d Apple shape and muffin top because food would be the best way to define my body A neck to hold up my head And my collar bones covered in lipids My face well, attached to my neck
IMAGE FROM
POETRY BY
YETU DADA
GWEN MLONDOBOZI
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THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR And my eyes mere windows to my soul This body of mine is all I got Was never my choice And I sometimes think that DNA was just cruel Yet this is what I got Unedited or photoshoped No foundation or eye liner My hair straight from my scalp Bare foot and even slouching And that girl in the mirror is beautiful Untainted by your definition Never fitting in any of society’s boxes Uncategorized And never complimented That girl in the mirror is beautiful
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LEANNE TLHAGOANE FOU NDER & CHIEF CU LT I VATOR AT R EFA SHION A F R IC A
BY ASHLEY ELSE PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARQUEZ FREDERICO HAPPINESS CAFE, BLAIRGOWRIE, JOHANNESBURG
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Those that live or have truly experienced Africa will understand, within their very beings, the beauty that this great land possesses. From South Africa to Egypt, Mauritania to Somalia and everything else between we experience a large spectrum of vibrant colours, styles, people, cultures, and traditions. In so many ways we are so different to the rest of the world. The “Africanism” each person carries in the way we move, dress or speak is wondrous. It is something we should truthfully embrace and use to unite with one another. However, finding someone with a passion for the people and style of Africa is refreshing and when you do, amazing things begin to happen. Leanne Tlhagoane is one of those people. Previously, a successful
“ At the end of the day, you have to take the time to develop your ‘voice’, build enough strength to stick to it, and never compromise your integrity “ LEANNE TLHAGOANE
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brand marketer of a number of global consumer brands, she now finds herself pursuing something that she absolutely loves and is passionate about – Africa, fashion, design, and style. She has done this by creating Refashion Africa, her fashion and lifestyle website which serves as a fashionable eye on urban Africa. The website is completely dedicated to shining a spotlight on the best fashion, design and lifestyle content from Africa. Leanne does this by collecting and showcasing the newest, latest and best fashion from major cities across Africa like Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town, Accra, Addis Ababa, Maputo, and Kampala. For, Leanne promoting a fashionable, modern urban Africa is what lifts her.
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fter studying in America, Leanne wanted to pursue something that combined both her love for fashion and clothes with her love for Africa. Before establishing Refashion Africa she encountered contemporary collections from African designers which inspired her to create the website. By nature, Leanne is curious, enjoys learning and helping others be informed as well and she found that she was able to do this through her website. With her focus being on urban African fashion she finds she can share, connect and help other people discover urban African fashion and style. Like most in fashion or anyone with a passion for their respective field, they have an inspirational figure or icon. Leanne is most inspired by Coco Chanel as a historical standard bearer within the fashion industry. She attributes this to the story of Coco Chanel and her revolutionary attitude and approach to the fashion industry. Coco Chanel was born as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel in August of 1883 in France. At a young age, she lost her mother and thereafter she was placed in an orphanage by her father. She was raised by nuns who taught her to sew during her time at the orphanage. Before becoming an iconic fashion designer, she used to be a singer and it was during this brief period where she attained the name, Coco. She kept the name and pursued fashion. Chanel’s attitude was that luxury items of clothing should be comfortable otherwise, they are not a luxury. This attitude had a huge impact on the fashion industry of the time. Chanel was the forerunner in the trademark of her suits and little black dresses. Her focus was to make clothes that were more comfortable for women. It was this thinking and attitude which has inspired Leanne.Leanne has not stopped here either. She utilises her previous experience in brand marketing to further the fashion industry within Africa. She works on a consultation basis providing fashion marketing, market development (within Africa), styling and imaging consultations, fashion PR as well as a variety of other services.
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er interest lies in connecting with like-minded companies, creative business owners and brands in order to assist in developing those around her. The fashion industry is a ruthless one and Leanne says that she has learnt not to have any expectations. In doing this she explains how it leaves the door open for endless possibilities and that having expectations can often limit opportunities. She has learnt that it is important to persevere in what you want to achieve and to work as hard as you can in order to achieve it. “At the end of the day, you have to take the time to develop your ‘voice’, build enough strength to stick to it, and never compromise your integrity.” Leanne to this day is constantly busy developing and creating content for her website and collaborating with people. Her current project is the African Fashion International Mercedes Benz Fashion week Jo’burg which will be taking place in August. She loves fashion weeks of all kinds. She says not all are on the same level due to different markets being at different stages of their development. She explains how each one offers something new and different and that a lot of exposure is important in the fashion industry. It is when one is exposed to many different things at various levels of developmental maturity that a person is able to broaden their way of thinking and approaching future goals and tasks. As a business woman, following her heart, creating her own journey, and doing so in boldness and gratitude which has driven her in her desire for success. Leanne suggests five tips for anyone interested in starting a career in blogging or fashion. However, there is wisdom which transcends the aspiration for starting a business in fashion and extends to all areas of life - whether it be day-to-day interaction, the pursuit of success or just living as a person with an intent on making a difference in society. Leanne suggests the following, “Know your story and speak from the heart. It’s attractive. Confidently express your thoughts and style. It’s magnetic. Learn how to Network and get to know people. It’s valuable. Quality over quantity always wins in the end. It’s more sustainable. Patience and persistence breeds success. It’s critical.” Urban African fashion is a field where there are endless possibilities due to the nature of Africa being so diverse. Leanne is covering a lot of ground within the field and her work is truly incredible.
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R EFA SHION AFRICA V IS UA L CUR ATOR SHOWCASING AND PROMOTING A FA SHIONABLE, MODERN URBAN AFRICA A FASHIONA BLE EYE ON UR BA N AFRICA, I HOPE TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON FASHION, DESIGN AND STYLE FROM AFRICA.
WEBSITE: W W W. R E FA SH IONA F R IC A .COM
FACEBOOK: R EFASHION A FR ICA
INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: @R EFASHIONA FR ICA
PINTEREST: R EFASHION A FR ICA
TUMBLR: R EFASHION A FR ICA
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DAUGHTER Dear, my dear daughter Black girl, you are beautiful Your curls, coiled just enough to hold and house the rich fragrances of oils and fruit which exude from you. But those unequal ends above your head are soft enough for a crown of jewels to lay, perfectly. For your Kingdom lies in the Heart of Darkness. A bizarre, hypnotic land of tender truths, laden heavy with forests filled with opulent fruit. This frightening beauty, is knitted in the essence of you. The weary climb through your forests and over your hills just to touch your hem and heal. Your body moves and curves like a rushing river, with a black magical sensual appeal. Your springs of healing golden dusted waters call the pilgrims. They all crave. Brown sugary sweetness A Honey comb Toffee Kinda Cocoa A Blackberried Coffee bean A Black eyed pea My dear, don’t you see these things, they were all inspired by you You are the birth place of colour (more on this) You are not the other.
IMAGE FROM
POETRY BY
UNSPLASH
PUNO SELESHO
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DAUGHTER You are the only, the only slice of majesty that looks, tastes and resonates the way you do. (Let your skin be loud as you enter every room) You are not lesser You are not to be returned to sender You are not a mistake You are not too dark You are perfectly brewed Yes you are an acquired taste You are a mystery you are magic (a golden light beam never to be caught or contained). You are to be admired You are heavenly I love you black girl, don’t ever apologise for the blanket of black pearls that form your skin. I know, your melanin carries stereotypes and stories, responsibilities, horrors and memories which weren’t even crafted by your hands yet here you stand, a crucible of all things black. But that is not your end that is your etymology your history the deep dark rich forest which you are rooted in, alongside your mother, your sister, soaking in through your rootz all the splendour God gives you. Be nourished, drink of natures milk. For the bones of your heart need to be strong in this world
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DAUGHTER to weather the storms of change, of ignorant vocal chords and words I love you black girl. I love who you are, where you come from and I am beyond excited about where you are going. Now white woman with a skin covered in a delicate coat of milk, I challenge you, pick and up your pen and fill your page with immortal words of adoration for your daughter, praise her beauty and highlight the intricacies others might see as flaws. Tell her where she comes from tell her you loved the hint of pink she carried when she was born. Scribe her narrative. But white woman don’t forget to read what I have written, don’t forget to teach your child about mine, so that when these two princesses meet their smiles will collide, their fingers will intertwine and they will marvel at each other and fall in love with all the shades of colour. I refuse to for my child to be colour blind, and you should refuse your child to ever look down on mine. Let them learn their differences but love each other all the same. Picture my girl whispering into the ear of yours: I want to learn your story and know why it shaped your face that way, don’t you want to know the fairytale that gave birth to my name? Regardless of whether you say your tongue don’t twist that way. Learn my name and I shall scribe yours too.
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DAUGHTER It’s true the blood of fear has left a nasty smear on the idea of “rainbow” so I propose a new goal, simply art. We are simply art. A piece of creativity, flamboyantly diverse in our various shades and without the differences, Earth would be a bitter bland shame. So love you, love your skin and the ink you were scribbled in, and smile, smile because we were all made just right. Love me, love my skin love the ink I was scribbled in. And forever and always, I will smile, smile because I was made just right
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I am WHAT I fancy Social media markerting professionals, Bec & Marissa Karagiorgos share insight into their personal style and being a woman.
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TWICE BLESSED SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING PROFESSIONALS
BY DANIEL CLOCKSIN PHOTOGRAPHED BY TWICE BLESSED
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Twice Blessed is a platform where they share their daily style, fashion, and lifestyle inspiration, Twice Blessed is Bec and Marissa’s passion turned profession. While it was not their intention to turn this blogging hobby into a booming business, mixing jobs and interests is everyone’s dream, and such a natural step for these two twin sisters. This is not to say that it was an effortless step. Bec and Marissa both have a Bachelor in Business Marketing, enabling them to put a well-founded base to their career. Bec and Marissa launched their own Social Media Management company, appropriately named Twice Blessed Digital, wherein they manage other clothing brands’ social media accounts. On top of this, they also create social media content, have marketing consultations, and still manage to have lots of fun while
“ There is originality in creativity, and in creativity, success. “ TWICE BLESSED
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they are at it. This whole endeavor started evolving into what it is today in the later months of last year, when the sisters decided to expand their clothing and lifestyle blog, and turn it into something which would attract a larger audience with a common sentiment. Being identical twins, Bec and Marissa have always worked really well together. Being on the same wavelength always insured that one’s ideas and goals never strayed very far away from the others. Being equally passionate about fashion and styling, the twins would always work in the same retail jobs, which often confused their customers. The sociable atmosphere intrigued these two sisters, and the mixture of fashion and friendly relatability made them realize that there was a desire to do something together connecting all of these aspects.
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ec and Marissa found that launching a blog together was the natural progression, and consequently, their most important one. The impact that Twice Blessed has was not only for the viewers, however. The sisters’ faith, and the responses to their faith has been phenomenally influential in their drive to keep on furthering this unique career. At almost every single event they attend, there will be a mention of their faith, and how it is an inspiration to others both in the fashion industry and out. For Bec and Marissa, this great testimony is the reason why Twice Blessed exists, and it encourages them to keep fighting the good fight. Inspiration, however, does not only come from fans. Christine Centenera and Amanda Shadforth, who writes the Oracle Fox blog, are two paramount Australian inspirations to the twins. This inspiration comes from the fact that Centenera and Shadforth are not only so effortless in their styling, but also able to maintain a strong style and rarely stray away from it. For example, if one went into a store, he or she could probably pick the pieces Centenera or Shadforth would wear because of their iconic style. There is a big difference between being iconic and being stagnant, however, and the twins have been careful to recognize the difference. Bec and Marissa have learned that it is essential to evolve and adapt when it comes to fashion. There is nothing more dangerous than becoming stale in their industry, and so they have learned from the best to adapt and innovate their technique with new technologies and methods. The twins’ recent collaborations have been quite extensive, including The Outnet, Shopshop, and Farfetch. They were able to run Farfetch’s Snapchat for a day, and during that time, did a walking tour of Melbourne.
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Of course, it would be irresponsible not to mention Bec and Marissa’s favourite event, Fashion Week. For them, it is the best excuse to dress up in a completely styled outfit, which they would normally not get the chance to do, and experience living life like their customers do. Although the sisters usually remain rather casual with their fashion week outfits, they express that it is really fun to wear different designers’ brands, mixing and matching with accessories and textures. When giving advice to bloggers, Bec and Marissa believe that the best trait is in being unique. For a blog to be well read, it must stand out, and have an aspect different than other blogs. Finding that specific area which beneficially separates one from the rest is the key to having a blog like none other. The purpose of a blog in the first place is for the intention of sharing with the
“ Character is the key to true success “ TWICE BLESSED
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world something that has not been shared before. There is originality in creativity, and in creativity, success. Success for Bec and Marissa, however, is not a destination; it is more about who one is than where one is. Character is the key to true success. Anyone can be displeased with success if their character is pessimistic, but a good character can turn even a failure into a reason to keep persevering. Maintaining good integrity and having a strong knowledge of who one is produces an assurance of personal success. From there, it becomes more about learning from life, allowing new experiences, and impacting more people rather than looking towards mere numbers, statistics, and position. These two twin sisters realized the true meaning behind their passion, and it is not a money-making monopoly; it is a care-filled calling.
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TWICE BLESSED SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT & FA SHION
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BEC A ND M A R ISSA, THEIR FASHION, AND THEIR FOCUS VISIT THESE PLATFORMS.
EMAIL: TWICEBLESSEDBLOGGERS@LIVE.COM
WEBSITE: W W W.T W IC E BL E S SE D.COM. AU
INSTAGRAM: @T W ICEBLESSED_ @TB_DIGITAL
#TWICEBLESSED
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I FEEL LIKE GOING ON ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ I lost my family today My husband and children taken away One moment in time I went from being a mother a wife to nothing How do I begin tomorrow, alone? yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ They amputated my leg They did it to save my life I know it had to be cut off I think they should have just let me die Having to look at myself Seeing how they stare I hate my body, more than ever,
IMAGE FROM
POETRY BY
UNSPLASH
GWEN MLONDOBOZI
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE
59 EDITÉUR PLUS
I FEEL LIKE GOING ON yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ I have no idea where the next loaf of bread is coming from I have to feed them and I don’t know how to explain it to them. Where do I start it’s my job to fill their mouths however, with no job the plates remain dusty this was never the life I hoped for them yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ I hate myself Life feels suffocating No one understands I am invisible
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE
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I FEEL LIKE GOING ON How could anyone ever love me I will never be good enough I am so ugly yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ I was raped I never deserved it Violated Stripped of dignity Broken Afraid of men Sad yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ I just buried my son I cannot breathe, it hurts so much
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE
61 EDITÉUR PLUS
I FEEL LIKE GOING ON I was never supposed to outlive him No mother should birth and burry her child unnatural that pain is unspeakable my life is never going to be the same yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Though trials come On every end I feel like going on’ The cancer has spread I may not make it this time I have gone through chemo twice already It was hell both times I do not know how to break it to my family again They have been through so much I have lost a lot already yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Thou trials come On every end I feel like going on’
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE
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I FEEL LIKE GOING ON He walked out on me and I just know that he is not coming back two words “I’m leaving.” it is not what he said it is not how he said it it was just that look in his eyes yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Thou trials come On every end I feel like going on’ Another Miscarriage How many more do I need to endure I felt life Now an empty void Barren And another loses Another child to mourn yet ‘I feel like going on I feel like going on Thou trials come
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I FEEL LIKE GOING ON On every end I feel like going on’
…she sang.
EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE
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EDITÉUR PLUS / THE FOURTH ISSUE