Langa means sun in isiZulu. Finest refers to a person who stood the test of time and the heat of life. Langaville thus represents a disadvantaged background and Finest implies that one shines against it. The clothing brand therefore celebrates people who shine against their background and who strive against all odds to change the status quo. Through Langaville’s Finest we are selling self-esteem. We seek to instil confidence and motivation, hence our concepts promote hard work and hustling for one’s dreams. The legal knowledge Gift acquired gave him essential skills that are instrumental in his business. “I saved a lot of money by filing the trademark application and the company registration myself. I acquired negotiations skills from the Law of Evidence and Law of Civil Procedure practicals. I knew how to draft contracts and proposals in a persuasive manner. In business it is important to think on your feet and the LLB curriculum trained me to do so. Lastly, the moot court experience at UJ empowered me with people skills and the importance of working with a team.” The education process is important and trains the mind, even if you decide to follow another direction after graduation. It is important to finish what you have started, it is a good character trait, says Gift. In 10 years’ time, Gift sees Langaville’s Finest with distribution centres in 10 African countries and dominating the retail space in South Africa. His vision is to partner with higher institutions of learning and government departments, so that the business can absorb graduates, and final-year students can do vocational work at the company according to their field of study, from fashion design, film and television to retail management.
Through his business he has created jobs for six other people, some of which are current UJ students. “Creating jobs is important to me as it eliminates poverty in our communities and it helps employees take care of their loved ones and helps ensure economic stability in our country. The students who work with me are employed in line with their field of study. I also use creatives for our photo shoots and graphic design.”
Throughout his LLB law journey at UJ, Gift Makeke, creative director at Langaville’s Finest Pty Ltd, was working hard to also ensure the success of his clothing brand. Today, the 26-year-old runs a successful business and is living his dream, selling garments underpinned by a message of self- esteem and resilience. He established the brand on 29 October 2016 while he was a first- year LLB student at UJ and later registered it as a clothing company.
Gift Makeke was always into designing and marketing trendy, colourful clothing for young people, even while he was a full-time law student.
Langaville’s Finest prides itself in being a vehicle that also helps others achieve their goals, says Gift. Last year, Langaville’s Finest partnered with Saki Kloss Modelling Agents for Legends of Summer, a fashion show with live performances where aspiring models walked the runway wearing brands by South African creatives. The event provided a platform and exposure in Johannesburg’s trendy Maboneng District for upcoming artists who performed in front of a live audience.
“In 2019, during my final year, I made a decision to give my full attention to the clothing brand until it functioned independently from me. My decision to study law sprang from a desire to be a practising labour lawyer, a decision inspired by my father’s retrenchment. My father explained the dynamics of employment to me which made me understand the impact of law on the lives of ordinary citizens. “I also acquainted myself with the stories of successful lawyers such as Patrice Motsepe and Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa. Their stories gave me confidence in my decision to study law and I felt that I could positively impact lives and lead a successful life myself.” Langaville’s Finest, with Gift responsible for the designs and most of the creative work, designs and manufactures a range of street wear, hustle wear suits (fashionable jumpsuits), windbreaker jackets, sweaters, hoodies, cargo pants and cargo tops, delela dresses and delela shorts, hoodie dresses, cargo skirts, and crop tops. The sportswear line consists of baseball
Why Langaville’s Finest?
“To give context, Langaville is a township in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. It is an underdeveloped area where most young people are subjected to alcoholism and crime because not much is happening there. They are frustrated by our realities. “I was born and bred in Langaville and the brand name was inspired by my personal story. In matric I became extremely ill and deregistered from the matric exams. In the following year I bounced back and completed my matric with good results. I chose the brand name to create conversations so that I could tell my story of victory and resilience.”
jackets, t-shirts, Golf t-shirts, sweatpants and tracksuits.
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 30
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