So earlier this year Cape Town was host to Mr Denzel Washington & Ryan Renolds. Some of the IG team had the pleasure of meeting both of them at various events as it was shot all over Cape Town over the period of about 4 months. For those who have not seen it yet, this is the official trailer, it would be good to know how many of our grasses were involved in the production (even if it was a small role). Drop a comment below if you were involved in any way…

One’s got to think…how many more CIA agents can go rogue? Either way , it looks pretty epic, and Denzel can make anything look good.

So last week we caught up with Sommie, aka Somajah and she told us a bit about herself, this week she popped in and let us know a bit more into the life of Miss Emma-Iwuoha!

IG: So what keeps you busy during the day?

SEI: Well I have a 9 to 5. I work as a Social Media Apprentice at Quirk, so that allows me to tweet all day and still be up to date on what’s popping digitally! I scour fashion and music blogs and last but not least I love tumblr find the most outrageous, interesting and profound stuff on there. FYI: I was into tumbling before it became trendy this year!

IG: Lol, so now its a trend you over it? So what inspires you then?
SEI: My inspiration is the goal/goals I have set for myself, sometimes it gets a bit hazy and I get lazy or fall away from my path, but it’s always there in the back of my mind that’s what inspires me and pushes me harder. Also looking at other people who are doing what they are passionate about and doing well in it inspires me a great deal.
Right now I am only on tumblr, I removed my blog because I felt that it was just too personal and not light hearted anymore, so I get my blogging fix so to speak through tumblr, and it pretty much represents anything and everything I like aesthetically, musically and design wise.

IG: Not so long ago you were kind enough to write about us in CPTSTREETMAG, tell us about that, you stillk involved?
SEI: As for CPTSTREETMAG I have been writing for them for about 2 years now, started off as a fashion blogger, then opinion pieces and now I do features on people who I find interesting or inspirational in Cape Town.

IG: Sounds tough! So what are some of your biggest challenges to date?

SEI: I think one of my biggest challenges was balancing school and my interests/hobbies. Thing is when I’m passionate about something I go hard and just give it my all, but I also lose interest very easily so I always need a challenge and personally school was always something I knew I had to do, wasn’t particularly thrilled about it so I saw it as getting in my way, but I managed to make it work after lots of pep talks from my Daddy (for a parent he was quite understanding about my lack of enthusiasm for Uni) and my support structure. I’m still a long way from really doing what I actually want to do especially since I don’t really know what it is yet (that’s what you get for liking things) but I feel like every new project I get involved in is a step in the direction for me.

IG: Well, keep pushing you will get there, so tell us then about a great exeperience?
SEI: I think my most prized experience was definitely when I graduated that was a load lifted off my back and secondly when I got the job at Quirk, it was my 2nd ever job interview and the first time I would ever be working and I was so nervous cause I just didn’t know what was up and after my final round interview which threw me off guard by the way! I didn’t hear anything from them and I remember going to my Daddy’s office the day of my final exam and he was like I need to continue my job search cause clearly I didn’t get the job (encouraging much?), that totally depressed me, and on my way home while feeling like crap I got a phone call saying I got the job was so excited! It was a great experience I didn’t even know how much of a big deal Quirk was until a bit later but yeah every time I think about that moment it’s like I relive it all over again and it always puts a smile on my face.

IG: Yeah we do like those guys at Quirk, they do some cool stuff. You spend a lot of time online, and you write any tips/ tricks for young women who want to also become quite online savvy?

SEI: Figure out exactly how you want to put yourself across online, if you’re going to be witty, sarcastic, a thought leader or just your general self, because people will judge you on what you say online so you better be prepared to deal with that, and remember once you put it out there it’s out there forever even if you delete it, so always be weary of what you say. In my case people can’t reconcile my online persona with my offline, but it’s just a matter of if I don’t know you your not gona see the loud, overtly opinionated cheeky side of me that you get online, but fact is that is part of who I am but it’s not the only side to my personality/character.

IG Is there any one thing / motto / saying that you live by?

SEI: I have a couple one that I really live by is that there is a time and place for everything. This really applies to everything cause often I see girl and guys acting the fool in public by being unnecessarily loud not only in speaking but in how they dress, how they behave etc, because they NEED attention, personally I think attention is so overrated, but it is what it is. I still feel that as a human being you need to respect yourself otherwise other people won’t even take you seriously.

IG: Respect. Thanks miss, where can friends, fans get hold of you, read your stuff, or just chat?
SEI: You can find me online on twitter @NotBellaLuna  on tumblr http://www.bellanotluna.tumblr.com and on Cptstreetmag http://www.cptstreetmag.com

IG: Hey Somie welcome to Wiki Weeks, so tell us a bit about yourself? 

SEI: My name is Chisomebi Emma – Iwuoha, my name means God abide with me in Igbo, I have more AKA’s than Diddy but most people know me by Somie, Somajah or Somz. I think depending on how comfortable they are with me they progress from Somajah to Somz! I’m 23 years young born in Naija but grew up in Ireland, England, Trinidad and South Africa. Hence my interesting accent that South African’s mistake for American while American’s think it’s British!

IG: So what makes you tick? What do you love, like, live for?

SEI: I am one of those people who are into a lot of things, I love music especially the production side of things, not saying I’m a producer I just love seeing how you can create a melody/catchy hook from nothing it always blows me away. Love Fashion or should I say style, be it design, architecture, or fashion. I am strongly moved by my senses, so if I see something that is visually stimulating I am drawn to it whether I understand what  I’m looking  at or not, I think that is why I am still in love with the impressionist art movement even though that’s not what’s so hot right now in the art world.  I love cooking, and experimenting with flavours and ingredients for me cooking is the perfect combination of enticing all of your senses, that’s why I love reading cook books, I even have a cooking/recipe app on my phone. But my favourite thing of all things is the digital world, because it allows me to get my fix of all the things I like in the palm of my hand, this makes me extremely happy.

IG: Where do you normally hang out? Where can your fans, groupies find ya?

SEI: The place I hang out the most is my couch! That’s like my official boyfriend spend so much time on that thing I’m surprised my butt isn’t imprinted on it! Jokes aside in summer during the week I love to hang out at the company Gardens, because it reminds me of Trinidad with the way it’s so green, I love nature just being close to the earth and just marvelling in all the wonders of this earth, plus it’s a great place to just relax and reflect on life. I like walking because you find a lot of interesting things when you are on your two feet so you can always find me walking around town channelling my inner tourista.

IG: What did you study, and what do you do… where you are not on a couch?

SEI: I studied at UWC came out of that joint with a B.Comm in Management and Industrial Psychology. I have plenty of skills I’ve been told I’m not a bad writer, I write articles etc for http://www.cptstreetmag.com and http://www.onedogchicken.com  I dance a lot and organise events when asked nicely, even though it stresses me after pulling it off it’s like a real rush and regardless of how much complaining I do while I’m organising the event I always do another event! I’m a junkie for challenges!

 Professionally I’m a professional pretty girl aka I look cute and look super stylish and because I’m soooo tall people notice me and get inspired In their own style game that’s my charitable cause to society, inspiring style amongst  the have not’s. I am also a Social Media apprentice at Quirk so I get to participate in digital campaigns for the brands that I manage, brainstorm ideas and come up with cool concepts that we execute on the different social media platforms.

IG: Wow, so not much then…  :)

Stay tuned to read more about Somie in the next post…

 So last week we caught up with Leneave for the first time…and he told us a bit about his life story and how he got to setting up his own label called Sushi & Beer. This week we got to find out more about this fresh up and coming brand… check it out

IG: What does Sushi & Beer (SB) stand for what is the brand all about?

 LH: SB stands for coming together of the good life, whether you kicking back in Camps Bay having sushi or chilling at Mzolis having a beer and chisa-nyama. Everyone has a dream we all want to be successful and this is the new South Africa we have access to so much.

LH: The brand is inspired by the new generation of young Africans. The dream catchers, go-getters and the street level trendsetters. We having been up and running for about a year now and it has not been very easy, all the learning experiences have been and still are worth it. 

IG: So what has the reaction been like to S&B?

LH: I am very humbled that that people are taking a liking to S&B and the responses have been positive. You know it reminds me about the responsibility we have for the consumers around us, in that we have to make sure we do not disappoint. We do this for our consumer which is the young trendy African youth who chase that goodness! 

IG: If you had any advise for guys who are sitting at the same cross road you were at before you started S&B what would you tell them?

LH: I advise the people out there to really chase their dreams, capture it and know what their dream is.  Because fear of failure ain’t gonna get you anywhere, you already lose if you don’t try..if that makes an sense…..Ha ha! Stop looking for a reason to procrastinate. You will be happy that you took the step and made it happen. Learn from the mistakes and just keep on going. 

IG: Nicely put, so where can we check out your stuff, and get in touch?

LH: If you wanna purchase or check out some of that “Real goodness” give us a shout on

facebook “Sushiandbeer Apparel and also follow us on

twitter @sushiandbeerSA

you can also purchase gear at www.rustyworld.co.za

IG: Anything you’d like to end off with?

LH: We have never had a motto but I always use the words “That real goodness” I guess because it’s positive and represents making what you desire and feel positive and good and for the good of those around you.

IG: So, Leneave, tell us a bit about your background and who it has made you today?

LH: Well I am me I am nothing more and nothing less, I came to South Africa about 7 years ago from Namibia to study Business at CPUT in Cape Town.

I was the naughty kid who just wanted to get away from home, but still very determined to make something of myself because growing up I did not have everything, I decided to do something more with the opportunities I have been given. 5 years later I graduated and was the first in my family to do so.

IG: Wow, that must have been a rewarding achievement for you, so what was your plan for after Graduation? You know, as thats the moment we all become ‘officially unemployed!’

LH: I remember after graduating I was pretty confused as what to do with my life, I was too busy partying during my campus days when I think about it. All I new was that I was not going to move back home to Namibia I wanted to be here in Cape Town and achieve something..but umm… was not sure. I remember I spent about 3 months going through a tough time, chowing 2 min noodles and canned food then one day… I was like now is the time to buck up! I got a job but not before long I lost it. That’s when I decided to make my own plans and started thinking like an entrepreneur. I even tried the get rich quick schemes they sell on the net hahaha!

IG: Crazy, how did that work out for you? The get rich quick schemes that is?

LH: Ha ha, what do you think… not so well! 

IG: So what came next?

LH: I started working on a plan. I felt inspired to start my own street wear label now know as “Sushi and Beer.” I have always been very interested in street wear, but all I needed was capital to fund it. I started applying for various jobs and finally I got a job as a financial manager at Old Mutual…which lasted about a half a day I walked in and by lunch time I thought to myself this is not where I want to be and I walked out. 

IG: So what came next?

LH: Well, I got a flight back to Namibia and arranged funding from my homeboy who was fortunate to have the funding to help me get started on “Sushi and Beer” (We will tell you about said “Homeboy” in the next blog post). I am so passionate about street wear in fact, I am passionate about anything that is cool…haha! For real though, I love Hip Hop and everything about its culture, oh yeah and the ladies (who is not?) HA HA! No but seriously though, most importantly, I am, grateful for every breath of air, life and all the good things in it.

IG: So for all the ladies that love Sushi & Beer, where can they find you on an average day in Cape Town?

LH: Ha, they can catch me at all the hotpsots in Cape Town hahaha! Spots like Neighbourhood on Long, Fatbacks Soul, or Cold Turkey and every other Sunday or so I head to Camps baybay! If not I do enjoy a long week of chilling on my couch.

IG: Whats next in the Leneave Hansen dream then?

LH: I hope that one day I can use the skills and experience I have, to change the mindsets of many others. I mean, if I made it, so can you.. p.s I am a huge fan the Air Jordans sneakers I always have been and always will be. Thanks!

Air Jordans

In the final part of our first Wiki Weeks with Jermaine Charles, we chatted to Jermaine about his passion for music, what he likes…

“You should be able to know what you like, and like it without having to defend it…” 

For more info on Jermaine check him out on Facebook & Twitter:

http://www.facebook.com/jermaine.m.charles

http://twitter.com/#!/charlesjaymr

Email: jermainemcharles@gmail.com

Thats us. Over & Out.

Stay tuned for Leneave Hansen, the BAWS of Sushi & Beer

So last week, we caught up with Mr Jermaine Charles, for part 1 of our first Wiki Week series, today we bring you part 2. When we caught up with Jermaine, he was pretty excited, and we asked him why? He announced his new project called the ZAXL Expo.

J: ” The ZAXL Expo is part of a large scale initiative in the retail, manufacturing and export industry in South Africa, aimed at creating new entrepreneurial and employment opportunities in South African youth. It is made up of 2 parts: 

1)     Online store / blog (www.zaxlonline.com) coming end October 2011
2)      Annual Expo ‘#ZAXL YOUTH Expo’ 2011 – 2016 Capetown ,then Johannesburg and Durban

The Online store is a platform for:

1)     Youth to inspire and be inspired my being exposed to local streetwear entrepreneurs (LEAD).
2)     Be exposed to how they can use their creative skills in various industries (LEARN)
3)     Buy and sell LOCALLY produced clothing products mainly streetwear (LOVE LOCAL)

IG: But why? What is the point behind this?

J: ” We want to be able to expose consumers and South African youth to the numerous local , good quality clothing brands available to them, perhaps inspire others to start their own, show that fashion can be a viable business.”

IG: So are you focusing on local is lekker?

J: Yes, our aim is to assist local brands to sell and distribute their products via the online store, pop up store and our own expo. We also plan to participate in local and international tradeshows like Design Indaba and Agenda Show. Many young brands fail to make it in the market due to lack of exposure and distribution. Online distribution can no longer be ignored as 100 million people in Africa alone use the internet and the use of smart phones in South Africa will be more common by 2014.

IG: So it has a long term vision?

J: Yes, we want to help sustain and in the long term to create jobs in the clothing and textile industry in Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal. There are more than 2000 manufacturers in Cape town alone, each employing up to 50 people mostly women, who in turn, support 5 dependents.

IG: So what made you get involved with this project?

J: Well, we want to show how youth can apply their creative skills in marketing, design, branding and the colleges they can attend where they can upgrade their knowledge (think AAA, VEGA, CPUT, RED&YELLOW, City Varsity). I myself am studying Marketing Management at Varsity College to boost what I have learnt through experience.

So we know the guys over at Head Honcho pretty well, and we super proud of their latest achievement… They have just become the first local brand to be stocked in Sportscene. So who is Head Honcho…

Head Honcho Clothing is a burgeoning Cape Town-based clothing company founded in November 2008 by Nick Kaoma and Mzoxolo Gcwabe. Head Honcho designs, manufactures and markets streetwear clothing that appeals to an urban market that comprises of trend-loving and boundary-pushing young South Africans. The company has grown its product line from just t-shirts and caps a season ago to include cardigans, varsity jackets, hoodies, shirts, tank tops and vest dresses for ladies. They say that as a brand their mission as a brand is to ” blaze a new trail, pioneer new fashion techniques and discover new ways of interacting with young urban South Africans. We want to  not only to produce attractive fashion, but also to ensure that the clothing is embedded with a core underlying
message.”

So be sure to check out their stuff in the various Sportscenes around the country listed below:

MENLYN PARK Pretoria
SANDTON CITY Joburg
EASTGATE Joburg
MAPONYA MALL Soweto
THE GATEWAY Durban
PAVILION Durban
GREENACRES P.E.
MIMOSA MALL Bloemfontein
CAVENDISH SQUARE Cape Town
CANAL WALK Cape Town