Walking his way to success

Sifiso Dlamini, has always been a sneaker fanatic. By the time he was 12, he owned 12 pairs of footwear because he knew that in Soweto, that was how one was judged.

Dlamini is the founder and CEO of an aspiring streetwear brand named Eish Hade, which is currently focusing on footwear. Eish Hade loosely translates as “oops…I’m sorry” and is a term usually used in the townships after stepping on someone’s toes.

“My partner, Nkululeko Ndlovu and I were toying around with the name of the brand when we realised what most people in Soweto would say if they stepped on someone,” said Dlamini, “and we decided to make it the name of our brand.”

Dlamini grew up in Meadowlands in Soweto and attended Langlaagte Technical High School, west of Johannesburg’s CBD. This is where he was to meet his future partner Nkululeko Ndlovu, when they attended school together from 2002 – 2006.

After school Dlamini ran a spaza and games shop at home to provide an income – at the same time he started taking apart old shoes to get an idea of how they are put together.

The diminutive Dlamini said: “Having a pair of sneakers in Soweto meant a lot. You were cool and every kid on the block wanted to have their pair of sneakers. “I used to sketch sneakers in my spare time instead of going to play; this is where the passion to make my own sneakers came from.”

Although they parted ways after matric, the pair reconnected when Dlamini realised he could turn this sneaker-making hobby into a business.

Dlamini’s favourite brand of sneakers while growing up in the 1990s was the Adidas Superstar, worn by most US hip-hop artists at the time. Loxion Kulca, the first homegrown urban streetwear brand in the 1990s, was to become one of Dlamini’s influences. Loxion Kulca, slang for “township culture”, started off as a headwear brand before being a fully-fledged streetwear brand with clothes and sneakers.

“When I saw how successful Loxion Kulca was I knew then that I could make my brand work,” said Dlamini.

Using an old pair of sneakers that he took apart, leaving only the shell, Dlamini re-assembled it using his own material in 2008. This was to become his concept sneaker. “I made a few other pairs which I sold to friends and family. They loved them and from these I got a lot of feedback and constructive criticism,” said Dlamini.

His mother also had a big impact, supporting him by buying material and letting him use her sewing machine so he could pursue his dream.

Dlamini registered Eish Hade as a company in 2009 but he had trouble getting funding to start daily operations and was still working from his room at home.

Looking for funding to buy equipment and help with training in making shoes, in March 2009 Dlamini went to The Business Place.  TBP assists new entrepreneurs by providing them with information, referrals, training, workshops, networking and business opportunities.

During a number of one-on-one consultations at TBP, he was referred to ChemCity. This Sasol group company assists entrepreneurs with creating business plans to gain access to funding. They also facilitated access to training for Dlamini at African Action which manufactures school shoes. Here, he learnt about producing top quality products.

Eish Hade now employs five people including Dlamini.

In 2010 Dlamini and Ndlovu were attending the annual Back to the City music event in Newtown in the heart of Johannesburg, and were showcasing their wares when fortune shone on them.

Back to the City is a hip-hop festival that has taken place on 27 April, Freedom Day, for the past six years. At the event they met Kyle Verbeek, account executive at Zinto Activation Group, a brand activation company that brings a brand to the consumer’s attention in a way conventional media would not be able to, using methods such as road shows. Verbeek immediately loved their products and initiated a follow up meeting with them.

“Meeting Kyle was a blessing because he initiated the meeting with Michelle Combrink, the owner of Zinto Activation Group. Michelle immediately loved our raring-to-go attitude and gave us R10 000 to buy material, as well as a workshop on their premises for free.” remembers Dlamini.

This relationship was mutually beneficial as Zinto needed branded sneakers for their activation work – and Dlamini would supply them.

“I get to showcase my work to other people, thanks to Zinto’s exposure which brings in money to the company. We’ve done activations for Zinto involving telecommunications company MTN, Willards, the snack company, and BIC pens,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini and his team are currently using three old model sewing machines and are in need of new machinery to up their production. “We are currently able to make at least four pairs of sneakers a day but under pressure we can make seven to eight. I see this company growing and us having our own factory in 10 years, creating employment and providing skills training to others.” said Dlamini.

Eish Hade sneakers are handcrafted and prices range from R280 – R500.