Neo Matheka
Our clothes tell a story of where we have been, where we are going, and how we would like the world to see us.
This is according to Reitumetse Jeremiah Lebea, a man of many talents but mostly known for his comedy, unique photography poses, and his superb dressing sense.
For a long time, Lebea, popularly known as Skaftin, was known for hoisting comedy shows.
He first worked with Sehlabaka Rampeta in 2017 and the latter brought in a team consisting of Nkopane Mojakisane, Nkoanyane Pitso, and Lebohang Theba.
Together they then formed what became known as Gags and Music Comedy Club.
“I picked up my fashion sense during lockdown when I had to make with the clothes I had as there were no stores open at the time,†Lebea told Newsday.
He said it was during this time that he also decided to venture into the business of buying and reselling clothes to a market he shared a similar sense of style with.
“I get most of my inspiration from movies and magazines,†he explained.
Lebea believes people communicate with the outfits they choose to wear.
“We also bring life to clothing without realising it because the only time we truly admire something is when someone else is wearing it and giving it the attitude to match,†he said.
He also made an example with people he always hangs around with. He indicated that without even planning it, they ultimately tend to all dress the same.
“Another example is the Black Experience events that took place a while back. Those people use their kind of fashion to tell their stories,†he said.
According to Lebea, through that uniformity of clothing, it is easy to tell that they subscribe to a certain type of lifestyle and they have their own language that is only understood by themselves.
“It is through clothes that we see where people belong, that sense of belonging creates a community of oneness,†he added.
Briefly relating his experiences as a young boy, he mentioned that he struggled a lot with confidence, and to make it through the day, he decided to participate in anything that would make people laugh.
Little did he know that his coping mechanism would build him an expanding brand and also help people recognise that there is no such thing as being weird.
“You just need to find your own community of people with a similar understanding of things,†he said.
The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 affected all segments of the population and was particularly detrimental to people who make a living by organising social gatherings, for example, stand-up comedians such as Lebea and DJs.
He told Newsday that he had been away from his usual crowd for a long time and was planning to make a comeback to the comedy.
