His name is Miracle Samuel Bobo, the creative director and founder of the SAM BOBO fashion brand. He comes from a humble and respectable home that has a caring and loving mother who is full of great values and principles. Samuel was born and bred in a small town called Chililabombwe in the Copperbelt.
Sam has learned and gained a lot of experience in life from the people he surrounds himself with. His mostly drawn to having friends that are older than him ever since he was a young boy. They have taught him the basics and foundation of life which exposed him to what real life looks like and mostly they have inspired him.
Sam is Christian by religion and believes that God exists, he also believes being a designer is what he is called, purposed, and destined to do in this life.
In 2020, he moved to South Africa, to pursue one of his longest dreams as a designer, to be able to study fashion (in a proper fashion school) and expand his knowledge in fashion. He started studying in 2021 at Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion as a diploma fashion designer student.
Miziziyangu had an exclusive interview with Samuel Bobo and this is what he had to say.
MM: Define the word fashion.
SB: Growing up in a Landlocked Country Zambia, not knowing or having someone to look up to especially in the Fashion space made it difficult for me to have had a proper definition of what Fashion is because people and families in Zambia do not support the creative art.
Only when I moved to South Africa to study Fashion, I understood better what Fashion means and to me fashion is not just only about design but more so about the people stories, cultures, conversations it brings and what they would like to express or convey through a garment.
MM: Define your style as a brand.
SB: SAM BOBO is a high-end fashion brand offering bold statements to confident kings, queens, and those with a desire to be seen. Our style comes with the following: Resilience, Confidence, Comfortable, Unique, Evolves, and Sexy.
As a brand we take pride in our pattern making skills, garment construction skills as well as our finishing skills of garments. The SAM BOBO products are timeless, bespoke and we pride ourselves as a top priority on the excellent quality of our products. Our style is very inclusive and doesn’t discriminate against anybody.
MM: What message is your brand bringing across?
SB: I want men to embrace their femininity without shame. To be able to push boundaries that are created by societal unfair norms. Challenge the concept and impression of Toxic Masculinity.
We have allowed so much Toxic Masculinity in our society so much so that we’ve overlooked what we usually refer to as soft men or rather feminine men do exists. Most African countries have taken away the freedom of expression especially in this concept due to old cultural beliefs that are not sustainable, misinformed bad political behaviours, a lack of knowledge and mostly pure discrimination. Furthermore, I also want to allow the embracement of female masculinity (a woman of power).
MM: Who’s your target market?
SB: My vision goes beyond fashion, it seeks to inspire men to embrace their femininity as a powerful and vital aspect of their identity. I feel that the brand has now a strong voice within the fashion industry and caters for a broader clientele and prides itself in not discriminating against anyone no matter who they are.
Sam Bobo brand welcomes you all with love and open arms, has a great desire for its garments to make everyone feel like a King, Queen, Queer or any other identity that one feels they are. From the business concept it would be anyone who is willing to spend money on good quality.
MM: You recently won this year’s SAFW Student Competition 2023, how do you feel and what does this mean for your brand?
SB: Winning the competition is a dream come true for me looking at the amount of work I had put into it. I feel overjoyed and accepted within the South African fashion industry, especially being originally born from Zambia.
The brief that was given to the participants was to conceptualize and design a dress only using calico, surface textile, and fabric manipulation. The constructed dress was to be worn either during the morning, afternoon, or evening.
The dress I created was inspired by the strength and resilience of women in high positions. It is a symbol of empowerment and a call for change. It embodies the courage to change the unfair treatment that some women face in society, with its bold and confident design, the dress stands as a reminder that woman deserved respect, recognition, and equal opportunities.
The Sam Bobo brand winning the SAFW (South African Fashion Week) student competition 2023 also validates the mere fact that I am on the right path and doing what I am called to do in this world. I am aware of the great opportunities that winning this competition has brought and the many other doors it has and will open for the brand in the new future, like collaborating with other established brands.
The win also has given the brand to go into greater heights as the SAM BOBO biggest vision is for the brand to be on a global and international stage. I intend to enter more competitions both local and international and hopefully to showcase my work on Fashion weeks shows platforms around the world.
MM: Lastly, why is it important to follow your dreams?
SB: Following my dream as a fashion designer is not just important, it is crucial and a livelihood for me. Looking back at how far I have come, with no one to help me but myself and a guardian angel, speaks volumes about my determination and passion. By pursuing my dreams, I have shown that I possess a unique vision and creative talent that deserves to be shared with the world.
Following my dreams has allowed me to express my individuality, push boundaries, and create something truly original. It has provided me with a sense of purpose and fulfilment, as I can turn my passion into a successful career. My journey as a fashion designer is a testament to my resilience and ability to overcome obstacles, proving that I have the strength and drive to achieve greatness. So, I continue to follow my dreams, for they are the key to unlocking my full potential and making a lasting impact in the world of fashion.
This can also be true to anyone who wants to follow their dreams, to believe in themselves, have a vision in making it happen no matter the challenges that one will come across. It is not an easy road to follow ones dreams, but a job with passion is better fulfilling than just doing something to get a pay cheque without the love and passion for it.