MKMLIFE
The Gospel According to the Charts
The genre has an integral influence on popular music worldwide Kanye West isn’t the first megastar to borrow from and contribute to the genre: a creative exchange that hasn’t always been welcomed. (more…)
Khanyisa Klaas X MARKHAM
“Women can always come together,” says artist Khanyisa Klaas, speaking about the ability of women to unite and rally around important causes. Inspired by gatherings from the Women’s March of 1956 in which protesters famously declared that “Wathint’ abafazi, Wathint’ imbokodo” all the way to the protested that ignited an uprising against gender-based violence following the murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, Khanyisa has created two graphics that depicts this power in the form of a collaboration with MARKHAM. One of the trademarks of her work – along with the repeated curves and figures with a single, central eye – tends to be bold colour. For these items, she experimented with more neutral, earthy tones. The result is a capsule collection of bold yet wearable, versatile pieces that have just the right amount of conversation-starting potential. Khanyisa hopes that this is just what they’ll do: provide a talking point for men who wouldn’t...
A moment for RnB
Style inspired by the genre is back on-trend – and the music never went away. You might have noticed that the ‘80s and ‘90s are back in a big way. In music, the nostalgia shows up everywhere from Dua Lipa’s infectious pop hooks reminiscent of the genre’s finest gems to Normani’s sample of Aaliyah’s ‘One in a Million’ on her latest single ‘Wild Side’. What’s also made a comeback are the pieces that were staples in most of our childhood wardrobes during these two decades. Think baggy jeans, oversized jackets, chunky sneakers and trainers and the glorious tracksuit. These were just some of the items made famous by RnB singers who, in the genre’s heyday, topped charts, gave us iconic and infamous red carpet moments and influenced popular culture more than their poppier and generally white counterparts. A crash course in the genre The term RnB (rhythm and blues)...
Making the Cut
Warren Theunis has earned the name “Mr Barber” – and is raising funds to help others through his craft. He also happens to be based in our very popular MARKHAM Golden Acre store and this is his story. While working towards excellence in his field, Mr Barber has made helping others a central component of his mission. We talk to him about self-care, his latest charitable campaign, and every man's secret weapon in grooming: the hairdryer. Warren Theunis is Mr Barber, a highly skilled and certified expert in men’s grooming. He’s well-travelled and well-versed in keeping gents looking and feeling good. Markham and Mr Barber have come together, blending grooming and fashion for a unique experience: A grooming studio inside Markham’s Golden Acre store. We spoke with the man himself about self-care, grooming trends, and how he got to be South Africa’s go-to guy for men’s hair. MKM: To begin,...
What does it really mean to be a father?
What does it really mean to be a father? It's a complicated question when asked anywhere in the world, particularly in a moment when we are having difficult, necessary and long-overdue conversations about gender and identity, and even more so in South Africa. In the run-up to Father's Day, we spoke with three local father figures at different stages of their parenting journey to get their on what it means to be deserving of the title 'dad'. Father & Father | Tebogo Thothela & Theophilus Thothela “Men and fathers who are present – those who actively work to fight the sins of patriarchy and systemic oppression. It is these men and fathers that we celebrate,” says Tebogo Thothela. For him, being a father comes down to being present: “It's a conscious decision to play an active role in your children's lives. It is about constantly showing up physically, financially...
High tops to haute couture: Hip-Hop’s fashion evolution
In keeping with this month’s MARKHAM Music powered by JOOX HIP HOP genre, we take a look back at how the genre’s influence became all-encompassing Hip-Hop's beginnings were never humble. From its birthplace in the world’s most-hyped city, New York, to its earliest icons, hip-hop has always been larger than life. The same can be said for the fashion and the overarching aesthetic elements that have come to define what is arguably the world's most influential art form. "Me and my adidas do the illest things." This influence sprung from the genre's tendency towards maximalism, even when dealing with everyday attire, like T-shirts and tracksuits. In the right hands, even the most ordinary outfit can be transformed into something stylish. Long before streetwear giant Supreme's billion-dollar valuation, acts like Run DMC's tracksuits and bucket hat combo achieved iconic status only when supercharged by gold rope chains and four-finger rings. The...
Deconstructing Logomania
Why branding is bigger and bolder than ever before. Who could forget the early 2000s? Juicy Couture tracksuits, Ed Hardy tees, and other questionable fashion choices were everywhere. Kanye West was mostly famous for never taking off his monogrammed Louis Vuitton backpack and clothing was increasingly becoming a status symbol to the everyday consumer, something previously relegated to the upper echelons of society. A century ago, the latest fashion was something imported from France that no normal consumer would know to even ask for. In the 80s, gaudy logos like the Versace Medusa head started a trend, pushing against the fashion establishment which preferred a subtler and more nuanced form of gatekeeping. In the 2000s, anybody could display their success on their sleeve, just by wearing the right brands with bold enough designs. Clothing has always been a kind of communication, a means of distinguishing class, and now the playing...
OUR.MKM STYLE GAME
MARKHAM OUR MKM STYLE GAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This promotional competition is organised by Foschini Retail Group (Pty) Ltd (registration number 1988/007302/07) (“TFG”) a subsidiary of The Foschini Group Limited and trading as Markham. In these rules, “Promoter” means a person who directly or indirectly promotes, sponsors, organises or conducts the promotional competition, or for whose benefit the promotional competition is promoted, sponsored, organised or conducted, which includes TFG. No director, member, partner, employee, agent of, or consultant to the Promoter or any other person who directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by the Promoter, their advertising agencies, or their spouses, life partners, parents, children, brothers, sisters, business partners or associates, may enter this promotional competition. This also applies to a person who is a supplier of goods or services in connection with this promotional competition. All participants must be South African citizens who also reside in...
Recent POSTS
CATEGORIES
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Signup to our newsletter for latest news and updates at Markham.