Being FlapJvck

Kelello Trevor Lehoka
Aug 16, 2017
3 min read

I am FlapJvck

(Sandile Shongwe)

Ever since primary I’ve been a fan for fine art. I studied Graphic design in Nelspruit now I am based in Johannesburg making the dream come true.

When did your passion for fashion start

I never liked fashion or trends it was just me trying to stand out and be creative with what I wear. In 2008 I started wearing differently from what everyone was wearing at that time I got creative and customised my clothes to what I like, such that my outfits would be an expression of how I felt. I got a lot of negative comments from people but then I kept going.

How did you notice your talent?

Around the year 2011 kids from the hood started recognising and complementing how I dress. This was when the fashion industry was about to introduce colouring blocking. Me and my homeboy starting thrifting and buying what was trending and selling it to the locals, but we kept the dope stuff to ourselves since most had not recognized the culture yet.

It was the year 2014 when we were shooting a short documentary, I experienced how photography and videography influenced the subculture.

How has your journey with fashion been

It’s been a struggle with a lot of setbacks, I believe the creativity and style will forever be within since Design and photography is what I live daily and I get my inspiration from daily living and people I normally hangout with and share ideas.

It only get harder when we have no finance to back up our work and those who don’t believe in what I’m trying to do. I’ve been designing my own work and getting friends to help out with modelling and shooting but others feel like it’s not for them and we are just chancers so they pull out.

How would you define fashion?

Fashion is a trend which influencers would drop 3 different trends in a year and that’s the fashion for the season or year.

Well to me Fashion is a feeling how I dress can never define me but can give you an idea of how I feel, in my everyday clothing I chose to express myself as a creative and standout always to me fashion has become a subculture.

What have you achieved so far?

Being part MPcreatives was like taking a step further for me in life I got involved in a lot of projects and met a lot of creative friends that are like family to me now.

Designing Litjitji was a risk I took with friends as we are trying to introduce a new lifestyle and subculture in Mpumalanga

Recently I haven working with UMUZI to help improve my skills as a designer and understanding design thinking.

Short/Long term goals

Well my short term goal is launching the official Litjitji life style brand winter edition next year 2018.

Long term goal is having a work space studio for MPcreatives with all the high-tech equipment we need to do our work best, basically having a networking environment where we share ideas with friends and push work at the same time “coffee shop vibes”

New projects that you might like to talk about?

Right now as MPcreatives I’m working on a style dairy, we will be shooting and interviewing upcoming fashion influencers and stylist which we recognise as one that you should lookout for in the coming years basically for now its childhood friends and the kids from Mpumalanga making waves.

Career highlights

Graphic Design

Fine Art

I record soulful deep house mixtapes and working on podcasts

Please explain your creative process

Honestly right now I don’t know what I’m doing but it feels right and I know it’s what I’m passionate about, so I go out as much as can just to network and meet new faces and cultures its where I find my inspiration.

I am a visual person that means I find it hard to read a book so the art galleries and documentaries (Music and Fashion) is what influences my creative thinking, it’s always best working with a team or having mentors to bounce off your crazy ideas.