There’s an emerging community of young people who are pushing the boundaries of self expression by adding bold and bright colours to their lives. “Colour is better. I think too many human beings are cocooned into darkness, by darkness I mean safe colours,” says Thabang Tshale, sporting bright blue skinny jeans, multicoloured sneakers and a red t-shirt.
There’s an emerging community of young people who are pushing the boundaries of self expression by adding bold and bright colours to their lives. “Colour is better. I think too many human beings are cocooned into darkness, by darkness I mean safe colours,” says Thabang Tshale, sporting bright blue skinny jeans, multicoloured sneakers and a red t-shirt.
He says that he does not like the notion of being a “calm dresser”. Born in 1989, Tshale represents a group of young people who have a need to add a dash of colour to their outfits, taking their inspiration from the colurful 60s and 80s fashions.
In fact, clothes evocative of the past are often known as “retro” for colour-lovers. This social/ fashion phenomenom is also described as Generation Y, the MTV generation, the Ama Kip-Kip generation named after the brightly coloured, candy covered pocorn you can buy in the township or the millennial generation, to name a few.
Like all generations before them, they have been influenced by developments and events in their environment.
But don’t try and box them into one label. For these feisty fashionistas, clothes are not only about self expression, but are also chosen to reflect their unique personalities and mood.
“Colours tend to reflect how I feel. What colour I choose to wear on a particular day describes how I’m feeling.
For example, when I’m wearing orange it means I’m in a very happy mood,” says Mandisa Booi, a 20-year-old pharmacy student who looks more like an art student.
She dons orange framed glasses, lime sneakers, red jeans, a bright blue t-shirt and a red and black plaid shirt. On one of her arms are a fork and spoon that have been turned into bracelets.
“I just think they’re cool,” says Booi of her alternative accessories. For Sizwe Hlatshwayo, bright colours brighten his mood.
“Colour brings happiness to me that I can’t explain,” says the 21-year-old journalism student who currently hosts the Sunday late show on Radio Grahamstown.
He says that through colour he can reflect his individuality. Another member of the colourful community, Lesego Masome, concurs with Hlatshwayo saying that colour boosts her mood.
“Why live in a black and white world? I dream in colour. It definitely boosts my mood and I look forward to dressing up,” adds the 21-year-old BComm student who dreams of studying fashion in Tokyo.
Her favourite colour is purple, which is celebrated with her purple Reebok sneakers, black tights with splashes of lime, pink and purple and a purple tank top complete with a purple headband.
