Ten years after starting out with customised clothing while still in high school, Siyabonga Shabangu is celebrating the staying power of Envy Straws Street Kulture.
The Palm Springs creative launched the label in 2016 and has since grown it into a clothing brand offering T-shirts, caps, hats, hoodies and other streetwear-inspired apparel.
His journey later moved beyond producing his own pieces. In 2020, Shabangu opened Stayleng, a retail space that brought different local brands together under one roof.
The store closed in 2022 after financial challenges and the effects of the COVID-19 period, but the setback did not end his involvement in fashion.
In 2024, he returned with a local brands runway, creating a platform where designers could showcase their work. The event was documented and shared on YouTube.
For Shabangu, the decade-long journey has been shaped by persistence as much as creativity.
“You do not need a perfect beginning to create something meaningful. What matters is believing in your vision, learning from every setback and finding another way forward when one door closes,” Shabangu said.
This year, Envy Straws celebrates 10 years in the industry, with Shabangu preparing to host “The Last Lunch with Envy Straws and Friends” to mark the occasion.
“Ten years taught me that fashion is not only about what you wear. It is about identity, expression and having the courage to create something that carries your name and your story,” he said.
