Africa’s Most Sought After Stylist Talks Wins, Fashion Politics, and Mental Health
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magine being a fashion stylist and having already styled 21 magazine covers before turning 21 - that's the story of Phupho Gumede. In an exclusive interview with Uncutxtra magazine presenter, Chioma Ezeh, Phupho talks about his incredible career growth so far, the politics in the fashion industry, and so much more.
HIS JOURNEY SO FAR From one milestone to the next, my journey in the world of style and fashion has been a wild one. It hasn't been easy, and it can be tricky because you wouldn’t have thought the business of style or fashion would be lonely because you are always surrounded by people, but it is quite lonely, and when you do so much, tick some boxes and achieve some major feats at a certain age you start ruffling some feathers in your space something I never saw coming. People want you to do well, but not too well, you know what I mean? I am constantly learning, and as they say, the universe will keep teaching you until you finally get it - that is where I am at right now - always growing, always pushing forward.
IF ANYONE EVER MADE HIM F E E L H E WA S N ’ T G O O D ENOUGH As a young professional with a famous sister, I've had to navigate through various challenges in my career. Every project I undertake is an opportunity to prove my worth and show that I can deliver exceptional results. Unfortunately, not everyone shares my enthusiasm, and I've faced s ke pt i c s w h o t h i n k t h at my accomplishments are solely due to my sister's fame. I'll never forget the day when I was styling a billboard campaign for 'The Real Housewives of Durban,' and one of the female cast members refused to even glance at the selections I had picked out for her. She accused me of being hired because of nepotism, assuming that I only landed the job not because of how good I was, but because my sister is also in the show and threw the dress I picked for her on the floor, that she wasn’t wearing any of it. This kind of situation has become a recurring experience in my career, even when I started working with more influential celebrities, it is something that I have had to constantly deal with especially because of my age. People tend to doubt my experience because of my age, but I refuse to let their skepticism hold me back.
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WHEN HE FELL IN LOVE WITH STYLING The idea of being a stylist never even crossed my mind until I stumbled upon the profession. As a child, I was fascinated by fashion and spent hours watching shows like 'Fashion TV' and 'E! Star shows'. But it wasn't until I witnessed a particular fashion show that everything clicked into place - I knew I wanted to be involved in the world of clothing and design.
At the time, I wasn't exactly sure what role I wanted to play in the fashion industry. All I knew was that I had a deep passion for fashion design. Even as a young child, I found myself giving fashion advice to my sisters, helping them choose the perfect outfit, matching shoes, and accessories for their events. When I was 13, my sister took a chance on me and asked me to design her a red-carpet dress for an upcoming event. With determination and creativity, I set to work and managed to create a stunning dress that earned her the title of 'Best Dressed'. From that moment on, I knew for certain that I wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry, specifically as a stylist. She became my first client
PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT Oh boy, you're really putting me on the spot! It's like choosing between my babies, haha! Styling 21 magazine covers before even turning 21 was a major flex for me, and proof to myself that I am capable.
