The Throne Mag | July 2018 | Tshepi Vundla

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TSHEPI VUNDLA FASHION | CAREER | MOTHERHOOD

JULY 2018

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TSHEPI VUNDLA'S DAZZLING JOURNEY Star quality is a rare and intoxicating trait, and something which is effortlessly embodied by Tshepi Vundla. The brand influencer and stylist has captivated South Africa’s digital landscape over the past five years with her immaculate style, mesmerising personality and enchanting vigour for life. Her ascension as one of the most fascinating and influential South African digital stars has been a thrilling journey, culminating in campaigns with some of the biggest brands in the country, her latest campaign as one of the faces of Haig Club South Africa, alongside international superstar, David Beckham, and an incredible new chapter in her life, motherhood.

With the allure of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Daisy Buchanan, the appeal of Marilyn Monroe, the fashion prowess of Victoria Beckham, as well as grace and refinement of the finest royals, Tshepi embodies a warmth and confidence that ignites each room she occupies. She’s dazzled Johannesburg, and South Africa at large, with her enthralling life and has afforded her followers a front row seat into her pursuits, pleasures and passions. Whilst many incredible qualities contribute to her astounding ability to command the interest and attention of her followers, Tshepi’s most captivating trait is that she has come to represent what many South African women aspire to be like. She exemplifies unapologetic confidence, ambition, beauty, a daring fashion style and an overall freedom in always choosing to be her authentic self. It’s that realness which has made her personal brand so relatable to those who are inspired by her,

and offers a sense of hope that they too can live their lives inspired by boldness and taking risks.

Having been an integral part of the foundation of South Africa’s influencer landscape, she vividly recalls “influencers”, as they are known today, not existing at all when she first began. “I just posted and people wanted to know what I was wearing and where I was going, and that’s why I started tagging brands.The Woolworths StyleBySA campaign happened and that was my first paying digital campaign. We shot stills as well as the TVC, and the winner of the group got the opportunity to go to New York. I went with my sister, which was very cool, and everything just started blowing up from there.”

Tshepi’s intrinsic love for fashion is what has been the basis of her career continuously reaching new heights. It is a profound passion that organically seeps through every aspect over her life, allowed her to be a style risk taker, and led to her establishing her very own styling, personal shopping and wardrobe designing company, Twelve12. “I did Woolworths for three or four years - a campaign in winter or summer.

It’s really cool to have worked so much with a brand as big as Woolworths. Having also done interviews with Top Billing for them on trends and styling for example, was great because I’ve been able to incorporate my own career. It was great because it wasn’t just them using my face, it was really about my talent and input.”

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Whilst being part of the birth of an influencer movement was exciting, it came with its own set of challenges and hard choices Tshepi needed to make about following a traditional career path or taking a leap of faith and pursuing a path and passion she felt deeply about. “It was weird because I was actually at my third varsity and I was in and out of Cape Town shooting inserts for Top Billing and Expresso. I was studying and it was clashing with my time, and that’s when I decided to drop out altogether. It was a very hard decision because I wasn't sure if this (the influencer industry) was going to happen or become what it is it today. I don’t think “influence” was really a known thing in 2013.”

The influencer landscape has grown significantly since then, seeing Tshepi work with countless brands. One of her latest brand campaigns was led by Diageo, a British multinational company, and entailed introducing Haig Club whiskey to the South African market alongside other local celebrities and international superstar, David Beckham. “Diageo e-mailed me last year October about a new whiskey coming to South Africa with David Beckham, so I sent a screenshot to my sister and she was like ‘no, that’s not real’, as she bursts out in laughter. After doing her research and confirming that it was in fact from Diageo, she set out to embark on what has been her biggest brand campaign to date.

As the digital fashion landscape and influencer industry has grown, so has the number of brands who have decided to focus on influencer marketing and the amount of people who aspire to become influencers. “New influencers in the industry are ruining it for us because they’re just accepting jobs and agreeing to do work for free, so when I give brands a rate and express that I feel I’m worth more than this, brands go find someone else who will do it for free.”

Her advice to aspiring and emerging influencer is clear, “You need to stand up for yourself with any brand that you’re working with. At the end of the day it is their brand, but it’s your face and name, so it has to represent you.”

2017 marked a beautiful new chapter in Tshepi’s life as she welcomed her son with her partner, artist JR Bogopa. The new chapter in her life has come with reflection and a great deal of growth, and is evident in the peace and glow she radiates around her. “I think me partying all the time clouded my judgement a bit. So being at home really gave me the opportunity to think a lot and reflect on the people I wanted around me, the direction I wanted for my life and parts I needed to let go of.”

As she basks in a new found peace, navigating the constant scrutiny and negativity that comes with being thrust into the limelight has not always been an easy process. “I used to be a person that blocked people. It took me a while not to respond, but I had to learn because brands are always watching me. I recently had a chat with Mimi (Mvakali) and Mawe (her sister) about it, and because of the chapter I’m in in my life right now, I decided to unblock everyone. I literally had over 800 people blocked on Twitter and I unblocked each and every one of them. I think the only negativity right now is regarding my son. It still hurts sometimes, but I look at my life and I’m truly so happy.”

As she looks onto the next chapter of her life, her first love, fashion, is still set to be the foundation of her career. “I’ve experimented more with my style since becoming a mom, I couldn’t dress like a baddie anymore”, she adds with her infectious laugh.

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“It’s a different chapter, I’ve cut some people out of my life, I don’t party as much as I used to, life is completely different, so I wanted to play around with my style and I’m having so much fun with it.”

Whilst Tshepi has worked hard and built and incredible personal brand and career, the future is set to be just as exciting and fruitful. She’s set her sight on expanding her brand in different fashion avenues including a possible fashion line in the future and is currently focused on a her very own pop-up shop.

What’s certain is that whichever path she chooses to explore will be an overwhelming success, because it’s driven by an intrinsic passion which guides her. Tshepi’s path has led her where she is today because she’s always been true to herself and lived life according to her own rules. She’s a glowing reminder to all of us that when you walk unapologetically in your truth, you will always be led to the path you’re meant to be on.

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WHO INSPIRE.

RHARHA NEMBHARD CREATIVE DIRECTOR. CURATAR. OVERALL GODDESS

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MIMI MVALALI ATTORNEY. CONTENT CREATOR. FASHION WRITER. REAL LIFE GOLD .

Photography by Mpumelelo Macu and @Jashughatt

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Photography by @Jashughatt

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SIÁN ECKLES FASHION & LIFESTYLE BLOGGER

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HANEEM CHRISTIAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR. PHOTOGRAPHER. STORYTELLER.

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05

THIS IS OUR TERRITORY ADIDAS ORIGINALS SAMBA

BY TREVOR STUURMAN

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To mark the return of the Samba, one of the most beloved silhouettes in 3-stripes history, adidas Originals South Africa turned to Trevor Stuurman to bring to life a local campaign featuring photographer Uno Gondo and digital curator Lindiwe Ngubeni.

The iconic Samba campaign, a continuation of the partnership with Trevor which kicked off with the adicolor launch in January 2018, draws inspiration from South African grass-roots soccer culture. The eclectic images hero the Samba OG and the newly launched women’sexclusive Samba Rose silhouette alongside the second drop of playfully fresh adicolor apparel.

When asked about the creative execution and how it highlights the enduring blueprint of Samba through a local lens , Trevor said that; “We decided to use the iconic handwoven Kente cloth from Ghana as backdrop as it represents time, technical skill and heritage.

We felt that similar to fabric, soccer brings people together in an authentic and celebratory manner. It was also so important for me to personally bring it back home to Africa and to celebrate our collective culture.”

Stepping out in classic black and white colorways, the Samba OG’s one-for-one reproduction is a welcome return of a chapter in adidas history like no other. The Samba is a sneaker that embodies an antihype attitude while being a fashion staple and streetwear essential and Uno Gondo incorporates the silhouette into his effortless, original style.

As a photographer, Uno hone’s his craft with quiet precision. “Creators are the new athletes. Our platforms might be different but we all have to practice to perfect our techniques and perform when the time comes,” he explains when asked about the parallels between the hustle of grass-roots soccer players and up-and-coming creators in South Africa.

“The Samba’s statement black and white colourway and timeless silhouette make it so easy to incorporate into my wardrobe.

From athleisure, to everyday casual and suits or formal skirts, the shoe fits. I think it’s ability to remain simple yet make a bold statement allows for such versatility.” added Lindi when questioned about staying true to her style when wearing Samba, the authentic sneaker that embodies everything that adidas Originals is.