FASHION DESIGNER INSPIRED BY MAYWEATHER
A HARARE-BASED fashion designer says he was inspired by iconic boxer, Floyd Mayweather, to come up with his own clothing line, ‘JAILOS GOAT.’
Valentine Jailos, who grew up in Mbare, has been a professional rugby player and an amateur boxing.
He also wants to cover both sports and streetwear.
“I grew up calling myself ‘Jailos the Great’ so people in my hood, and at the academy I grew up playing rugby at, Mbare Junior Rugby Academy, which was led by Victor Pekani and Milton Lanken, call me by that name.
“From primary school level, the name started growing and it was the same at my high school at Churchill.
“I played this other game, it was a curtain raiser for Zimbabwe Sables, we played against St George’s and i got injured but I was outstanding despite the injury.
“I have been following Mayweather a lot and his MTM and it inspired me.
“Whenever I see him wearing caps and hoodies, I just say to myself I can create my own brand and be better than this and this is how I created JAILOS GOAT.
He added:
“I approached a certain guy named Ashley, who believed in my dream. He then designed a logo for my brand.
“He then started printing T-shirts and shared them on different social media platforms. “I started giving people T-shirts for the brand to circulate everywhere. Every month I used to give out 10-15 T-shirts and people responded.”
He said the use of digital platforms has helped him.
“My former classmates, who are abroad, are supporting me. They are pushing the brand outside the country.
“They are very supportive and this has helped with the visibility of my brand among musicians. Celebrities are also putting on my brand.
“I am now doing proper clothing label and I can do any fashion outfits with my logo.
“I am going to be the first Zimbabwean to have a clothing line that will rock all over the world.”