Designed To Win
GQ South Africa|October 2019
The winner of the MINI Scouting Menswear Competition Shaylene Morris shares her inspiration and vision for her unisex couture brand, Bi Parel.
Thobeka Phanyeko
Designed To Win

GQ: Congratulations on taking the MINI Scouting Menswear crown. What does this mean to you?

Shaylene Morris: Thank you. I can't explain to the full extent of what this means or how it really felt. It was really an out of body experience at that moment. I feel as a designer, as much as I want to be different and bring new ideas to life, I struggle to find a balance between creativity and retail. I'm constantly rethinking every step because I'm so fixated on getting my message across without words. Winning this competition was a personal confirmation to myself that I'm on the right track, and although I might doubt myself, if others believe in me this much I need to give myself more credit.

GQ: How has Bi Parel been received by consumers as a unisex street couture brand?

SM: Bi Parel started off as a menswear brand. Soon after, I was approached by a lot of female customers who loved my style and always asked if I made garments in their size. My pieces are versatile for the most part. It was never originally planned to be a unisex brand, but in today's fashion culture the lines are blurred between genders.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2019 من GQ South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2019 من GQ South Africa.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

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