Muzi, a Vans stan
Muziwakhe McVictor Mazibuko or simply known as Muzi is a multi-talented artist whose music is not constrained by genre or by location. But he also has a keen interest in fashion as it represents his interests outside of music. Mzansi’s golden child of electronic music sits down with Lethabo Nxumalo to talk about his personal style.
Muzi is known for his extraordinary ability to fuse funk and electronic with 80’s South African Bubblegum pop, maskandi, and isicathamiya. But his creativity and artistry is not limited to music. He commits to the visual representation of his music through his music videos and his aesthetics.
A skater at heart, Muzi always has a pair of Vans on. He is also known for wearing his trademark beanie - no matter what the weather is. His aesthetic is as laid-back, vibrant and energetic as his music is.
LN: Do you remember when you were intrigued by fashion?
MM: Yeah. When I was a kid, my mom used to pull out all her clothes and colour coordinate them. I think seeing her matching her pieces made me get into it and I realised that the way you look or the way you dress is important.
I just liked playing around with my parents' looks so I would try the beanie thing because my dad wore beanies and he would wear a lot of hats. I think I take from them and I try to reimagine that with Vans on. I’ve always been a skater boy [mixed] with what my parents used to wear when they were younger.
LN: You were a Vans fan before you had a partnership with them. How many pairs of vans do you think you have at this point?
MM: Oh, oh man [chuckles] I don't know. Maybe like 80 or something. I have a lot of them but I’ve always been a fan since I was like 10. I used to watch X Games on ESPN when I was a kid, and then I saw someone wearing them as they were skateboarding. I used to skate. I thought the shoes made you a better skater because of how they looked on TV.
LN: Do you have a go-to Vans pair that you know will work with whatever outfit you're wearing?
MM: The Old Skool Classics. Those are my favourite ones.
LN: Is there a specific reason why they are your favourite?
MM: They are comfortable for me and I like the way they age too. I like the way they look after a few washes. I like them when they are dirty and when they clean. They just fit perfectly with how I dress.
LN: What other brands do you tend to gravitate towards?
MM: I'm not really into high-end things. I love Supreme, their style is really cool. I’ve got some Golf Wang stuff, I’m really into that. Obviously I have some Stussy. It’s mostly just skate wear/ street culture brands that I am into. And sometimes, I just like Zara.
LN: As a musician, you spend a lot of time on tour. Do you think any of your travels have influenced your aesthetic in any way?
MM: The place that really influenced how I dress is Europe. When I stayed in Berlin, I started tucking in my t-shirts and showing my socks, you know, that sort of simple high waisted semi casual man-look where you could still hop on a skateboard.
LN: Pharrell Williams was recently announced as creative director of Louis Vuitton and over the years, his aesthetic is based in skate culture. What do you make of the aesthetics of counter cultures being integrated into luxury fashion?
MM: I think everyone evolves. Everything starts off looking underground-y, clicky, and very niche but all of these street brands have been growing so it was going to reach a point where the mainstream takes notice and poaches people from there. I don’t mind it because street culture or skate culture keeps getting bigger. I see it like a billboard where it can go from just you and your friends knowing about something to a lot of other people. I’m not precious about it like I’m the owner. That’s what culture does - it spreads. It was only a matter of time before Pharrell got that or anyone else. You can’t ignore something that’s good, no matter what culture it comes from.
LN: And my last question, do you ever see yourself more involved in the fashion world and if so, to what capacity?
MM: That is what I am focusing on this year. I’m working on merchandise but I’m treating it like it is a stand-alone clothing label. I see myself doing that and coming up with different ideas of how to make my art live in multiple mediums. I obviously like clothes and I like music so now I am trying to see how I can join those two worlds in a cool and organic way. I don’t know where that will go but I do know that I will do my best and roll with it.
Interview by Lethabo Nxumalo
Images by Mishaal Gangaram