Interview first appeared on Y-Not Culture’s 9th Edition

From his outfit to his political opinions, Zano Sithetho’s life is simply a stylish cloth hanging in a wardrobe. This is what he said about the upcoming national elections: very eventful. Everyone is fitting for a vote. I think it will be quite versatile. I’m interested to see who will come second.

Y-Not Culture’s first encounter with Zano Sithetho was after he won the SA Fashion Week Renault New Talent competition and the Nokia Youth in Design award in 2012. His designs did not impress only the judges and panel of the two competitions but, in fact, won the hearts of YNC; from that moment, it was a goal to lure him in our pages of YNC – who wouldn’t? Such an exceptional needle needs all the publicity available.

Dear readers,, Meet fashion icon and tailor Zano, a young lad from Eastern Cape looking to make not only Johannesburg but also the world a reflection of his sketchpad. With a belief that every every everyman should have a fashionable suit, this belief earned him a spot in GQ Magazine’s list of 50 most stylish South African men. He says, “I think every gentleman loves being looked at as quite classy and stylish,, and when one gets recognition from GQ as one of the best dressed in SA,, it’s quite a humbling accomplishment. It means that your sense of style is quite on point and you’re keeping up well with international trends. Obviously this adds a huge and valuable weight to your brand,, as your clients now know that their tailor is highly recommended by GQ.” Zano’s eye and passion for fashion don’t end on GQ Magazine’s list of 50 most stylish SA men.

He is also the founder and creative director of Skorzch apparel. Skorzch is a sophisticated brand focusing on slim and well-tailored suits.

The idea was to create a brand that was for the young and stylish men. “Our main focus is suits; we use the finest suiting available in South Africa, and we put the best workmanship in our suits. Skorzch, like every other men’s wear brand, was started from an experimental sale of embroidered T-shirts.

With no financial assistance whatsoever, Zano had to do odd jobs to raise enough money to buy his first sewing machine and get Skorzch up and running.

Pursue excellence, success will follow you. 

“Well, I never really planned it. I wouldn’t say it’s something I really wanted to get into. I started off branding golf shirts and selling them. It was after it had sold my first batch that I realised I might have a talent in design. “ When I started off, I had a future idea of where I wanted to take the brand; obviously, I had little knowledge about suits or tailoring. However, the more I learnt, the more my vision slightly changed, as much as I still wanted to make suits, but the final product and the direction of the brand had changed for the better. When I started, I wanted to make suits for everybody; I wanted every single guy out there to wear a Skorzch suit, not because I assumed I would make money but because I just loved the idea of seeing everyone in a suit. I have now developed new interests, interests in dressing a few but only the best.”

Zano’s sewing skills suit The Soil, AKA, Thapelo Mokoena and Theo Kgosinkwe. “I’m looking into dressing a couple of other prominent people within the industry.”

With 2014 baby steps to the end of the year getting bigger, Zano is making this oath with us: “Well, you can expect good suits, well-tailored. We are obviously working hard on growing the brand. So expect to see collaborations, fashion shows at fashion week and Skorzch private events.”