What does internationally acclaimed knitwear designer Laduma Ngxokolo, soccer legend Lucas Radebe and singer and fashion icon Nhlanhla Nciza have in common? Passion to share their success, their generosity, and what they have stood for throughout their respective careers.
The three individuals were announced on Wednesday as the Chivas Win The Right Way ambassadors.
This initiative sees the celebrities select promising individuals who they will mentor and inspire to greater heights.
“Our partnership with Nhlanhla, Lucas and Laduma is a marriage of values. As a brand, we are about winning the right way, giving back when you’re successful and sharing worthwhile moments with your friends, fans, and community,” says Chivas Regal South Africa’s marketing manager Shelley Reeves.
Lucas Radebe, Nhlanhla Nciza and Laduma Ngxokolo. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha
“They’ve shown South Africans that winning the right way means sharing success with others. Lucas proved this throughout his career by being the pride and joy of South African football, Nhlanhla through her legendary music career with Mafikizolo and Laduma by continuing to uplift his culture and the people of South Africa through fashion innovation,” she added.
Reeves explained that the project is not a mere celebrity endorsement. Each icon will mentor, engage and support their chosen mentees through their passion projects with the help of Chivas.
Chatting to Nhlanhla about the project, the Mafikizolo star said she is very excited to have the opportunity to do what she’s passionate about; empowering young women in South Africa.
Nhlanhla Nciza. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha
The singer will be mentoring two female DJ’s. Asked how she chose the individuals, she said: “They were on my case all the time, on Instagram, on Twitter, on Facebook asking me to help them. I really went in and took a look at their backgrounds and I could see that they are really hard working and they were making sure that they put their brand out there, without anyone’s support. So the passion project is giving me the opportunity to invest in this young talent and it’s a plus that they are women because I love working with young women, giving them opportunities."
The two women will be signed to Nhlanhla’s label, release a single and get all the exposure they need.
“I‘m going to sign them under my label, which is Home Based Records. I will be putting together a PR team for them. They will be releasing a single and they will be performing at Chivas regional events. That will give them more exposure."
Lucas Radede is going to be mentoring young people from Soweto. He will share his journey as a young soccer player from Soweto to becoming a captain of Leeds United in England.
Lucas Radebe. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha
Commenting on the project, he said: “Win the right way means being involved in the campaign that impacts positively into the society and makes a change in one’s life, which is something that I’m passionate about”.
Laduma started learning his craft on his mother’s sewing machine and has now transformed into an international fashion icon. Through his talent, he has managed to capture the hearts of many fashion lovers and media from South Africa to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Oslo, Berlin, New York and Italy.
Laduma revealed that, six months ago, he had workshops around the country and had spent a day with about 200 young designers, mentoring and motivating them.
He has elected two emerging designers that he will mentor and help to build their businesses through the financial aid of Chivas.
Laduma Ngxokolo. Picture: Nokuthula Mbatha
"I did a project with Chivas for six months where I travelled to main cities in SA. I invited 50 emerging designers. We ended the project in July. With the two mentees, I will be giving them an insight into the industry and also analysing their businesses to see where the short falls are, and Chivas will be injecting R35 000 cash to their respective businesses.
“All they need to do is to ensure they persevere and showcase excellence in the project within the space of a year”.