Founded in 2015 by Tshepo Mohlala, Tshepo Jeans was crowned as the Top Overall Brand at the inaugural Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA). Tshepo Jeans not only won an award as the Top Overall Brand, but also won Top Apparel Brand, leading to the brand walking away with two awards by the end of the night.
Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards
The Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, a Pat on Brands initiative held its first prestigious awards on the 15th of June 2022 . The purpose of the initiative is to celebrate and recognise brands owned and run by the youth. Fifteen brands walked away with the YOBA award in their respective categories. Tshepo Jeans crowned the Top Overall Brand – sponsored by Sakhumnotho Group Holdings.
TSHEPO The Jean Maker
Starting of his studies at AFDA in pursuit of film, Tshepo Mohlala, also known as ‘Tshepo The Jean Maker’ realised that fashion was the route he wanted to take. He then went to study Fashion Design at the University of Johannesburg. However, Tshepo had to drop out due to financial issues, but that did not stop him from pursuing his dream. That became evident at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards, scooping two awards for Top Apparel Brand and Top Overall Brand. Unfortunately Tshepo could not make it to the awards, because of personal reasons. His team was there to accept the two awards on behalf of Tshepo Jeans. Tshepo Jeans – we see you, you are REAL, AND WE RECOGNISE YOU.
Pat on Brands and the sponsors of the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards believe in the power and potential the youth has to change the world. The youth of South Africa contributes a lot to the country’s economy. It is time to celebrate and recognize youth-owned brands for consistently working hard and going beyond the borders of South Africa. YOBA is the start of something that will change and inspire the upcoming youth to believe in themselves. Tshepo Mohlala believed in himself – leading to the success of his award-winning brand, Tshepo Jeans.
