Drip and music lovers brace yourselves as Skoondrip Apparel is set to set up its first shop and keep you on neat as you dance the night away! 2026 is the year set for the clothing brand to bring the proudly Eswatini brand to the big stages and make a change in the fashion industry. The clothing brand owner, Nkosephayo Mndzebele shares how the brand has kept up for so long and how it has made its impact in Eswatini.
Q: Please kindly introduce yourself to us and share with us the background behind your label Skoondrip.
A: Hello, I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to say hello, lol. My name is Nkosephayo Ntokozo Mndzebele, born and raised in Eswatini in Manzini and I also lived in South Africa in Schoemansdal. I did my primary school education at Salesian primary school then moved to Mahlatsi Secondary where I completed my high school education. I’m a designer and entrepreneur who has been in the fashion industry for half a decade now. Furthermore I’m also an afro house deejay and an LLB holder, obtained from the Nelson Mandela University. Apart from that I’m just an extrovert from a kasi trying to make a name for himself.
Q: What was the vision or mission you had in mind when you launched your brand?
A: I love to describe my brand as a Luxury Street wear clothing brand that offers timeless, comfortable and elegant garments made from rare high grade material and offers obsessive attention to detail. Before SKNDRP APPAREL, I had another clothing brands but I then noticed the gap for a high end quality street wear clothing brand that would give emaSwati and Africans at large their money’s worth and that’s how SKNDRP was born. Our slogan “See no Limits” seeks to inspire the youth to reach their maximum potential and chase their desired goals and dreams.
Q: What achievements are you most proud of since starting your brand?
A: In 2021, our debut year, we were nominated at the Jumbo Festival Awards under the Hustler of the Year Category. Also that very same year we were nominated on the Social Media Awards under the Street Wear Clothing Brand of the Year and made it to the top 5. In the year 2023 we got nominated on the Eswatini Creators Awards formerly known as Social Media Awards under the Street Wear Clothing Brand of the Year and we managed to make it to the top 3. We have also been covered by numerous media outlets in the country including our two national newspapers. It also worth mentioning that we are currently the leading clothing brand to dress/ style our entertainment industry pioneers including deejays, artists, comedians and fun lovers at large.
Q: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a brand owner?
A: There are quite a number of challenges one has is going to face especially when their vision is to create a luxury brand but one that outweighs them all has to be finding the right material. It took us almost 3 years to find the right material for our t-shirts and now that we finally have, we can confidently say emaSwati will get value for their money and they shouldn’t doubt our capabilities to give them international standard garments.
Q: What steps are you taking to ensure your brand is sustainable and ethical?
A: Well as I have already mentioned not only do we use only the best material on land but also our garments go through a vigorous quality control process to ensure that our customers get the best and only the best products. Furthermore, we also made a pact with ourselves to contribute to environmentally sustainable initiatives, which is why our packaging is eco-friendly and fully recyclable
Q. How do you stay motivated and inspired in such a competitive industry?
A. I’m a person that researches a lot, I’m always on the internet researching on international brands, because that’s where my competition and focus is. I am always creating while monitoring trends here because as a brand you want to be relevant to your people while giving them high branded products. That’s the only way we can curb the culture of our people of choosing European brands over their own brands
Q. You’re also a DJ, please tell us more about that and how you got to start in the music industry?
A.I fell in love with the art of deejaying in 2013 when I first heard DJ Kent’s mix tapes of the Ultimix at 6 as they were called at that time. From there I started imitating what DJ Kent was doing through a software called virtual deejay. It was only on a much later (2019) date where I actually got to perform for a crowd and I haven’t looked back since. I am an afro house deejay that plays in clubs and festivals, I also make mix tapes for radio and have had my mix tapes play at EBIS 1, Madibaz Radio, Radio Chiguiro (France), Hala Radio etc. My music selection really just depends on the crowd that I’m presented with and that’s how I build my set and ensure that I take everyone on a musical journey
Q. What do you love most about being a DJ and how do you handle the pressures of performing in front of large crowds?
A. One thing I’d say I love the most is meeting and rubbing shoulders with some of the idols or musicians that I look up to like the likes of Shimza, Darque, Mas Musiq, Blxckie, Dlala Thukzin etc. I don’t really get stage fright anymore, I used to though, lol. If I’m playing on a big stage I just listen to a lot of hip hop (I’m a huge hip hop lover) on the day of my performance and that usually calms my nerves.
Q: What are your goals for the next few years for Skoondrip and as a DJ?
A: Oh man, SKNDRP APPAREL has a lot of plans underway but just to let you in on a few, we are set to open our first store in 2026, it will be the first of its kind in Swaziland and will give you the sense that you just walked in at an exclusive space. We are also planning to launch our website soon that will improve the shopping experience for our customers and give them the option of paying right on the website. For the deejaying side of things I am planning to release a single and eventually an EP. It will be a Dance EP and will feature some of the best vocalist the country has to offer.
Q: If you could perform at any festival in the world and get to gift somebody a Skoondrip merch, which one would it be and why?
A: It would probably be at Rocking with the Daisies in South Africa and I would most definitely gift the SKNDRP to Oscar MBO. His love and vision for fashion is inspiring and I believe our garments would fit perfectly with his sense of style.
