Latest news with #Myeni
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Sibusiso Myeni's Franko golfer T-shirt sells out: A fashion success story
Designer Sibusiso Myeni holding Amazulu's Franko golfer that is consistently sold out. Image: Supplied Sibusiso Myeni, the Durban-based fashion designer behind Betway Premiership side Amazulu's in-demand Franko golfer, delivered his latest batch of the popular T-shirt on Thursday afternoon, and it was sold out the following day. The trendy clothing item has repeatedly been sold out on the club's online shop, and on Thursday, it was no different despite Myeni's delivery. Amazulu players wearing the club's in-demand Franko golfers. Image: Supplied Myeni is in his second season producing the Franko golfer after being approached by Amazulu in 2023/24, when officials saw some of its players wearing designs from his label, El Dambie, which is associated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) geography, environmental management, and public policy Honours graduate. 'My clothing line is very popular among soccer players. I just received a call, and I suspect they were referred by one of their players, like Hendrick Ekstein. The players were very influential in getting me to work with the club,' he explained. Myeni said the batch he delivered on Thursday around 4pm was sold out by late Friday, and this was over-the-counter sales at the Moses Mabhida Stadium-based Amazulu shop and online. 'Working with Amazulu has helped me greatly in terms of growth because I used to do material for the brand based on orders, but now I am able to produce in bulk,' he said. In the battle of cotton golf T-shirts, Amazulu is up against Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, and Orlando Pirates, which have also teamed up with Old School to produce long-sleeve golfers. And Myeni is unfazed by the competition from the country's two most supported clubs and is ambitious. 'Everyone wants to work with well-known brands that have an international reach,' he added. Myeni said he is also open to working with other brands in and outside football and sports. 'I'm not limited to sport and El Dambie is very aligned with sports people,' the Richards Bay-born designer said. Myeni started in 2018 while studying at UKZN, where he was the best-dressed male for three consecutive years. That is when he realised he could do something about his often complemented fashion sense, as he observed that his peers could see something in the way he dressed. Myeni said he looked up to football stars such as ex-Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns star Teko Modise. He plans to complete his Master's degree in business studies after dropping out at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. El Dambie operates from Doone House in the Durban central business district. While Amazulu's short-sleeve Franko golfer fetches R1 000, Chiefs and Pirates' range is priced between R950 and R2 500. Earlier this month, Old School co-founders and owners, Daneel and Stephan Steinmann, expressed their joy with the response from Chiefs fans at the Soweto Derby league encounter at the FNB Stadium. 'For us, it's been such an incredible honour with the largest football club in Africa,' Daneel said. [email protected]
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality and Xiamen: A partnership for cultural and economic growth
eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni and Director of the Information Office of Xiamen Municipal People's Government and Director-General of Xiamen Film Shangguan Jun during the opening ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Tour in Africa and Xiamen-Durban Friendship Photo Exhibition. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers The relationship between the eThekwini Municipality and the City of Xiamen in China continues to flourish. This was after both cities unveiled the Chinese Cultural Exhibition at the Durban City Hall on Monday. The Chinese delegation also donated 250 books, which will be distributed across eThekwini libraries. This was during the opening ceremony of the Chinese Cultural Tour in Africa and Xiamen-Durban Friendship Photo Exhibition. The relationship between the two cities was formally announced in 2023. eThekwini Municipality Deputy Mayor Zandile Myeni said the exhibition and donation were a welcome gesture, demonstrating the possibilities in the partnership. 'For us, this exhibition is a key part in promoting better understanding between the two nations – boosting people-to-people diplomacy which enhances interaction between South Africans and the Chinese people,' Myeni said. 'Beyond diplomacy between our governments, we must strengthen collaborative efforts on the ground so that we create an enabling environment for ordinary citizens to benefit from the strong ties we are building.' The eThekwini Municipality and Xiamen, China are strengthening their relationship through a cultural exhibition and a donation of books. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers Myeni said they are committed to boosting collaboration in arts, cultural exchange, trade, investment in green energy, tourism, education, and environmental sustainability. 'As we look to the future, let us remember that the strength of our partnership lies not only in agreements signed on paper, but in the mutually beneficial friendship we forge and the mutual respect we cultivate. Therefore, we look forward to learning best practices which have seen Xiamen become a key economic hub of China,' Myeni said. 'As coastal cities, the ports of Durban and Xiamen contribute significantly to the economic growth of our two nations, and we believe there is room to deepen our collaboration in this area.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Durban Li Zhigong. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Durban Li Zhigong said their bond is rooted deep in their shared value of mutual respect and mutual learning among cultures. This bond is also forged through efforts between their governments and people, he said. He said that for the past two years, he witnessed progress and results of such exchange and cooperation in various fields, and on Monday they celebrated yet another exciting new phase of collaboration in the film industry. 'Today's (Monday) friendship-city photo exhibition is a testimony of that bond. It brings our two cities' landscape, culture, development and friendship into vivid focus,' Li said. Shangguan Jun, the Director of the Information Office of Xiamen Municipal People's Government and Director-General of Xiamen Film . Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers Shangguan Jun, the Director of the Information Office of Xiamen Municipal People's Government and Director-General of Xiamen Film, said when they arrived on Sunday, they found that the two cities were similar, therefore, it was natural that they became sister cities, as they are alike. Shangguan said they look forward to seeing more fruitful results between Xiamen and Durban, especially in the fields of the film and television industry. Monday's event was an opportunity to further explore cooperation channels between the two cities in fields such as culture and tourism. Xiamen in China was recently added to a directional sign outside the Durban City Hall. Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/ Independent Newspapers 'Embarking on a new journey of the golden era of China and South Africa relations, we will work hand-in-hand to foster more model projects, bring benefits to the industries of the two cities… which will further help promote our bilateral relations to a new high,' Shangguan said. 'We wish the friendship between Xiamen and Durban to last forever.' Following the cutting of the ribbon, handing over of the books and exchanging gifts, the eThekwini Municipality and Chinese delegation walked to a directional sign to unveil Xiamen, a new addition.
