Latest news with #Bathu
News24
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
BBM's Willy takes his clothing brand to the streets of Pretoria
Supplied His kasi charm and rizz made him stand out in the Big Brother Mzansi house (BBM) S4. He was one of the season's favourites, thanks to his relatable aura and love for the Bathu shoe brand. Although Wilfred 'Willy' Thathane did not win the grand prize, he made it to the semi-finals, maintaining his resilience in the Big Brother house. The GaRankuwa-born reality TV star bagged numerous brand collaborations, and he took his entrepreneurship to the next level. Before BBM, Willy was working as a production planner at Nestlé until his friends encouraged him to audition for the show due to his vibrant personality. Willy admits to Drum that he didn't even know about the reality show. Read more | Halala! Blood & Water star, Khosi Ngema, is engaged 'I honestly didn't even know what Big Brother was about. I went because my friends said I must go. Well, they encouraged me because of my personality. I had no plan going in, but I came out and realised that my life has changed forever.' 'I have now gotten the platform to work with brands in exchange for financial compensation and got exposed to a new world that I never knew existed when I was a regular 9-5 employee,' he adds. Growing up, he knew he had no safety net. When times got tough, he had no choice but to keep pushing forward. His hustle began as early a 10 years old, where he started selling sweets at school. 'Growing up, life hasn't been easy, but the only thing that kept me going was the mere fact I don't have anything to fall back on, so I had to keep it moving. I couldn't afford to give up; therefore, nkase fele moya (I won't lose my drive) with the aim that dilo ditlo tlhakana (things are going to eventually work out).' He made 'Lepara ale fele moya (A man doesn't lose his drive)' his daily mantra, which eventually became the name of his clothing brand. 'I was wearing a shirt that had my mantra, but with the exposure from the show and repping the four words 24/7, I decided to turn it into a clothing brand to extend its effect and to spread the message to the world at large,' he explains to Drum. 'Lepara Ale fele Moya is a daily mantra to encourage everyone not to give up. The goal is to turn it into a movement that speaks to everyone going through things they can't overpower, not to give up and trust the process.' As with any other business, he has faced multiple challenges like the lack of reliable suppliers and financial resources, which have delayed the growth of his brand. This has forced him to take his hustle to the streets of Pretoria to reach buyers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by WILLY (@wizly_wii) In a recent post captioned 'Finally stepped out of the 'what if people won't buy' zone', his followers rallied behind his hustle and vouched to support the 25-year-old. Speaking to Drum about putting pride aside and pushing his brand, he says, 'I don't associate myself with the word 'pride'. I just decided to not only depend on social media to market the business, but to also use my presence to attract more people and have a wider audience being exposed to the brand'. What many may not know, though, is that this is but his second business. 'It was in early 2023 when a friend asked me to transport her little sister to her matric dance with my car. I then started to charge people and that's how Luxury Rentals was born.'
News24
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
How to effortlessly jazz up your style with sneakers
A good sneaker can give you all the comfort and style you need with the least effort. Whether you're all about the label or just in need of a comfortable shoe to go about your day, there's a sneaker type for everyone. Do you enjoy the look of high-top sneakers or prefer to show a little ankle? Tiisetso Molobi, founder of the fashion label Urban Mosadi and Vans ambassador, gives TRUELOVE all the ins and outs of sneaker buying, from shapes to maintenance. High tops or low cuts? Different sneaker cuts work for various needs or outfit choices. An example Tiisetso gives us includes how ankle grazing low cut sneakers work well with straight-cut jeans or trousers. @truelovemagazine Have you ever seen Nandi Madida wearing sneakers? She tells us how she likes to style hers. Nandi hosted the #Bathu Ndofaya shoe collection launch celebrating South Africa's music legends! #NandiMadida #BathuWalkYourJourney ♬ original sound - TRUELOVE She says, 'Highs are great during the winter months but can be seen as seasonal. They pair well with wide-leg pants or jeans. The 'dad' shoe, although it's a low [cut], works with most looks, full-length skirts, trackpants as well as jeans. 'Lows or slim cut sneakers look great with straight cut jeans or pants, particularly the barrel-shaped silhouette slacks. The ankle grazing pants are best when wanting to showcase your choice in socks and sneaker.' Tiisetso's top sneaker picks 1. 'For me, there are three types of shoes I enjoy wearing day to day. First being The Dad Shoe, which is characterised as chunky, comfortable & retro. (New Balance 2002R or 1973's or Asics GT-2160 and Salomon) 2. 'Lows or Slim Sneakers are typically minimalist in design, narrow and utilitarian. (Replica GAT by Maison Margiela, Adidas Samba or Japans, Puma Speedcats or Vans Authentic). 3.'Collectable collab sneakers, this can be contentious or coveted. It truly depends on your personal taste and genuine appreciation for shoes. (Opening Ceremony x Vans Authentics, Cecilie Bahnsen x Asics).' If you're not much of a sneakerhead and prefer to splurge on takkies for workouts, Tiisetso offers some advice on choosing the right shoe for you. 'Advice I would give to a non-sneakerhead who only wears sneakers to work out, would be try a minimalist yet comfortable canvas sneaker that works for your foot shape. For a slimmer feet, sneakers like Speedcats, Japans or Sambas can work. 'For wider feet, sneakers that have a broader toe-box design such as the Vans Authentics will work best. But the Dad Shoe is a safest most stylish option across the board. They come in a plethora of styles and sizes offered by many sneaker brands.' Tiisetso Molobi in her top sneaker picks. Photo: Supplied Maintenance tips Maintaining your shoes all depends on how often you wear them and the style you're going for. Tiisetso explains that some sneakers need to 'patina', which is a natural or artificial wear and tear of a shoe and its exposure to the environment that softens the material, darkens the colour or adds a unique texture to give the shoe a little bit of character. 'The best way to maintain your sneakers will always depend on the frequency of that shoe in your sneaker rotation. Some sneakers need to patina to give them character. So no need to keep them clean, for instance, white and grey Replicas should be left as is.' Tiisetso continues, 'But the general rule is canvas sneakers should be sprayed with fabric protector while new. This should prevent staining. Leather polish works for that skin, and predominantly nubuck or suede fabrics just require a clean hard or medium eraser, when scuffed. The eraser can also work on the rubber of your sneakers.'
