Growing up in a rough township outside Johannesburg (South Africa), Tshepo Mohlala was laughed at for wearing skinny jeans before they were popular. But more than 10 years later, tables have turned, as 32-year-old Tshepo has become a favourite amongst celebrities the world over, for his inimitable tailor-made jeans targeted at African women who struggled to find a perfect fit.
Counting Beyonce and Meghan Markle as clients, Teshepo comfortably says: “The township was never ready for my sense of style! A whole lot of African women have a tiny waist and big booties and big hips and tiny legs. We created a range of jeans using raw denim with no stretch that is super tailored for women.”
Tshepo Jeans‘ top range denim is made from cotton produced in neighbouring Zimbabwe, which is then sent to a mill in Japan before being cut and assembled back in Johannesburg.
Many local customers like a light denim “with a bit of stretch” that is “comfortable” and “breathable”, making it well suited for the hot African weather, says Tshepo.
“Celebrity endorsement has really helped build our brand and opened up doors for us on a global scale,” adds Mohlala.
Personalised pairs of Tshepo Jeans sell for around $375, with orders streaming in from all over the world.