All the best businessmen and women in the world know that it is very difficult, almost impossible, to get rich from one thing alone. Which is why every celebrity you can think of does not stop at the craft they have perfected, be it acting or singing, or whatever else you can think of.
These ZAlebs chose to go the fashion route, turning their love for it into money. Have a look at celebrities who have shoe lines.
Nomzamo Mbatha
Actress and media personality Nomzamo Mbatha is a woman of many firsts. She was a speaker at the first ever TedX event to be hosted at a refugee camp, and in March 2021, she became the first female African celebrity to collaborate with PUMA on a whole collection.
Unlike many others who have done just one item of clothing, Nomzamo's line Shandu includes footwear, clothes and accessories. Yes, her motto is go big or go home (we're guessing).
Nomzamo meant for her collection to pay homage to her grandmother Mildred, as well as every girl who never thought her life would matter. In everything she does, even in fashion, Nomzamo is an inspirational icon.
Singer and dancer Sho Madjozi first collaborated with Nike on their Air Rebels campaign called #KissMyAirs. After the success of the campaign, Nike sweetened the deal, offering Sho her own line of sneakers under the Melanin Boyz Club x NIKE x Sho Madjozi collection.
Like Nomzamo's, Sho's collection included both shoes and apparel, with one key item being Xibelani-looking skirts. Unfortunately for the singer, the collection, particularly the skirts, was not received well by her fans.
In true Sho fashion, though, she did not let the negativity get her down. She will get the bag, whether she has support or not.
While everyone loved the shoes as soon as the dropped, it was how he announced the line that got Mzansi talking. He threw thinly veiled shade at AKA, saying he would be launching his own shoes, from which he would be making actual money, unlike others before him. This was in reference to AKA's ambassador collaboration with Reebok, which only compensated him with clothes.
At the time of their drop, Emtee sneakers went for between R1600 to R1900, varying by type. Talk about being in the bag!
The line, called The Power Woman Edit x Nandi Madida, quickly rose up the ranks as a favourite go-to for many of her fans, and in 2020, she won an Aldo International achievement award.
If there's one thing Cassper Nyovest is great at -- other than music, of course -- it is entrepreneurship. The Siyathandana hit maker just launched his shoe line, in collaboration with Drip Footwear SA.
The two signed what they call the 'Legacy Deal' in July 2021, releasing the first sneakers called 'The Root of Fame 990'.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the deal, Cass said he felt isolated during lockdown, finding his fame useless for the first time in his career. He thus chose to package the fame and make it lucrative, even in the absence of gigs, by giving his fans an opportunity to experience what it's like to be him.
As the name suggests, a pair of RF990 sneakers retails for R990, all inspired by the 1990s, when Cass was born. What a well thought out process!
The best part about Makhadzi's big win was that it came only briefly after she spoke about having had a dream where she would be rich and help kick poverty out of Mzansi.
She landed a deal with shoe company Kicks Sportswear SA, to create a line of products in a campaign called Kokovha. The line is meant to reflect Makhadzi's person, beliefs and principles.
The line was launched officially on 9th December 2021 in a colourful ceremony. So far, Kokovha is getting great feedback, as many hope to emulate Makhadzi's unending energy by wearing her shoes.
One reason that brand partnerships worked so well for most of these ZAlebs is that they pursued something they were already interested in. As most of them shared, they had bigger goals for their fashion lines than just making money.
Perhaps that is the missing ingredient in many our side hustles. But no more, now that we know the secret. Go forth and prosper!
