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.

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