King Gina

(image provided by Sheria Ngowi) Africa’s fashion industry is one of the fastest growing industries. The world has found a way of appropriating African designs and textiles in its runways so it was only about time that more African luxury fashion brands would start cropping up to offer Africans and the world an authentic interpretation of the continent's style. In my past life I used to be a high-end image consultant (predominately for the men’s market), this is where I got to learn about the extremely talented designer Sheria Ngowi. Sheria Ngowi is a Tanzanian luxury menswear designer who has taken Africa by storm. So when I got the opportunity to approach him on Instagram, I took it. Talk about the power of social media. To my delight, Sheria was so warm, appreciative and keen on doing this interview. This interview turned into a master class that had me thinking of when I completed my Honours in Brand Leadership. Sheria has dressed heads of states, celebrities and Africa’...

(image via http://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/designing-luxury-experience/) A premium brand does not equate a luxury brand but a luxury brand is always a premium brand. The two have always been used interchangeably. The only problem is that there is a difference between the two and as a marketer or a person interested in brands, one has to be able to distinguish between the two. A luxury brand's main focus is on exclusivity. A luxury brand evokes emotions of superiority and tends to be aspirational in its brand communication. A premium brand's main focus is on superior form and function. When advertising a premium brand, there is extensive focus on specifications and what sets it apart from other products with a similar offering. On his blog, brand guru, Seth Godin expressed that a luxury brand's price is not related to its performance. The price is related to the scarcity of the product, the brand and the storytelling behind the brand. Seth Godin furthe...

(image: https://www.amazon.com/Brand-Gap-Distance-Business-Strategy/dp/0321348109) WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO? AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? - MARTY NEUMEIER (THE BRAND GAP) In The Brand Gap, Marty poses the above three questions to brands. All in the name of creating brands that have meaning. Once you have that, purpose converts into profit. Authenticity is a real thing and dis-ingenuity reeks. I believe that each and everyone of us should be able to answer these questions about ourselves and not only the brands and organisations that we represent. We are after all brands in our own right. I am starting my own journey that will help me answer these questions organically and authentically. We all have a story that we tell ourselves about ourselves. Lines that we repeat. Lines learnt from the things we consume everyday... television, social media and our networks . When asked who are we, most start of us start by saying that we are "hardworking", "ambitious...