Gen Z means business

It’s tough to be a part of the working world these days, especially when you are a young person freshly booted out of school or university, looking to find your feet on increasingly unsteady ground.

Young South Africans are all too aware of the dicey, dire state of the job market and, as the adage goes, beggars can’t be choosers. But no-one with their whole life ahead of them really wants to get tied down to some stuffy corporate entity for the next 40 years – so what is one to do?

The answer is to strike out on their own. Millions of young people worldwide are starting up their own businesses, taking passion projects and turning them into fully fledged successes. And they are doing it their own way, like all rebellious young people do.  

For starters, young people care about sustainability. You’ll be hard pressed to find a small local business these days that isn’t eco-friendly, using recycled materials in its products, sourcing said materials locally, and having a proudly South African-made end product. A focus on higher-quality, more ethically-sourced items makes it feel worth it to spend that extra rand or two, as well.

Social media is also the new invaluable tool of business – I have been sold on many an item by the inventive, hilarious videos coming from these brands, swaying customers with the power of relatability. I have also been wooed and wowed by the gorgeous aesthetics of a company’s effortlessly chic Instagram feed – there’s nothing quite like selling a vibe that convinces me to click “add to cart”.

So, here is a list of five local businesses that I love, showing off the star power of Gen Z entrepreneurs – all environmentally conscious, socially media savvy, and a whole lot of good fun.

Leluya

It was love at first sight between me and the stunning velvet Mary Janes of Leluya. The brand, based in the Western Cape, offers something different to most small businesses: shoes!

Leyula ballet flats and Mary Janes are both elegant and chic, while still being playful and adding a vivid pop of colour to any outfit. They are made of the softest, buttery velvet, and are extremely well-priced at R650 a pair. You can get them in 10 different two-tone styles, from mint green and cream, to bright red and burgundy. They are finished with a 100% cotton lining and eco-friendly recycled rubber soles.

I can easily picture all the coolest Cape Town influencers roaming about town in these stunning shoes, with their ultra trendy baggy jeans and iced strawberry matchas to match.

Blonde Milk

Aléz Smorenburg from Blonde Milk makes jewellery for “messy people”; the offbeat bride who breaks tradition, or the corporate girly who is into maximalism. Blonde Milk’s pieces combine classic elements with wacky twists and sharp, colourful accents. You can shop for the “Holy Moly” earrings, or the “Emotional Support Diet Coke” necklace. Every piece is made to order, and to your measurements, ranging in price from R500 to R4,000.

Blonde Milk’s website is a wild collage of famous blondes in mugshots and intricate sterling silver and pearl jewellery pieces. Everything about the company screams exuberant youth, and the carefree silliness that comes with it, while maintaining an air of serious “girlboss” energy.

Made by Maka

I discovered this brand, as we all do these days, on Instagram, via its hilarious reels and short videos.

Made by Maka is all about making the everyday feel less ordinary, and more inspired and beautiful. It has a range of hand-drawn, eclectically classic oven gloves, tea towels, lunch bags and aprons. Some are adorned with sweet pooches and pigeons, while others feature dusty pink posies and brightly coloured figs on a blue striped background.

The range is lovingly eco-printed with vegetable-based ink for sustainability purposes, but items are still very well-priced for all the hand-crafting that goes into them. I can already imagine these pieces gracing the kitchens of the most stylish people I know.

Broke

The name “broke” pretty much encompasses everything about being a young person these days. Founded by the “broke boys” in 2016, the brand takes a negative concept and turns it into an über cool, 90s pop culture-inspired, high-fashion concept.

Broke has all sorts of “threads” you can buy, from artistic graphic tees to the beloved, street-style “B” baseball cap.

The brand is something of a subculture icon, and has an edgy, bustling Joburg vibe to it even though it was founded in Cape Town. You’ll catch all the coolest DJs around repping this brand, whether it be the knit jerseys or dark-wash denim jeans.

Broke frequently collaborates with and sponsors nightlife events across the country, fulfilling its mantra of giving its customers not just clothes, but an experience.

Ubuntu Film

Young people love a throwback, and there’s nothing like a film camera to fulfil that fantasy. Ubuntu Film does something incredibly creative – takes the boring shmoring disposable camera and makes it refillable. It doesn’t sell clunky old film cameras but slimmed down “memory-makers”. These come in a range of gorgeous shades, from baby pink to tiffany blue to fire-truck red, all at the fairly affordable price of R1,299.

Whether you’re embarking on an adventure in the wilderness, celebrating with friends, or languishing on the beach, the Ubuntu Film camera sleekly fits into your bag and snaps aesthetically beautiful shots of your days.

A large part of the reusability aspect is to be environmentally friendly, making that nostalgic experience a sustainable one.

The brand has blown up on social media, and every trendy girl these days needs an Ubuntu Film camera, or you’re just, like, not cool.

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_{Top image: Broke knits. Picture: supplied.}