Dyantyi at his stand. Photo by Vusumzi Mamile.
12 December 2012
Madoda Dyantyi, 37, has created a brand that many people can’t wait to wear this summer. In September 2011 he started selling Che Guevara t-shirts and that’s where he got the idea of coming up with his own brand.
The Che Guevara t-shirts were selling for R40 each but Dyantyi’s new brand sells for R100 a T-shirt and R180 for a hoodie. The father of three has never worked for someone else. He only believes in being a self-employed businessman and this seems to be working for him.
“I used to be an electrician and from there, I started the clothing business. This is a very interesting business because both myself and my wife love it,” said Dyantyi.
Dyantyi’s business runs by season. In summer people buy T-shirts and in winter they buy mostly hoodies. Dyantyi says his clothing items are unique, quality items. He uses a special spray to do the design.
His work is in high demand lately. Dyantyi started printing t-shirts with the writing: ”Kumnandi ekapa” (Fact Khayelitsha rocks). They were so popular that he has now produced different cuts of the T-shirt. He had also developed T-shirts with new messages such as “Kunini ndikubhuqa” (I’ve been looking for you for a long time), ”Ljampile ekapa ziyabila” (It’s obvious that Cape Town rocks) and ”Lobola bhuti liyatshona ilanga” (Pay your Lobola because time is running out).