Many times, some public personalities have seen their image grow bigger to the extent of attracting adoration beyond their known realms.
They go beyond their professional terrains to become fashion bedrocks or poster faces of various campaigns.
Globally, icons such as Jamaican reggae music legend Bob Marley, American activist Martin Luther King Jnr and Argentine Marxist revolutionist, author, guerilla leader, politician and a major figure of the Cuban revolution Ernesto “Che” Guevara de la Serna are among the names that transcended their domains to become fashion inspirations.
Closer home, departed reggae music star Evison Matafale, rapper Martse and ‘Soldier’ Lucius Banda are some of the faces currently featuring in some of the fashion accessories.
From the political side, one figure that seems to have a telling on fashion is the departed vice-president Saulos Klaus Chilima alias SKC. The SKC brand has inspired designs such as caps, T-shirts and overalls.
Fashion creator Roy View Banda who plies his trade under the RVD banner, last week released new designs called ‘Bhiyeni Legacy’.
In an interview yesterday, he said what SKC achieved in his political life inspired him to come up with something in his memory.
“He is one individual who inspired me alongside many youths to start taking politics seriously. Before him, many young people hated politicians and politics in general. But his approach changed the mindset of many youths,” Banda said.
He said he got the blessings from the UTM Party, a political party that Chilima co-founded, to be producing the designs bearing his face and name.
“I plan to donate part of the proceeds at the Ntcheu District Hospital paediatric ward. The date will depend on how much sales I make within the period,” he said.
Another designer, Woodrow
Mhango, said at first, his deigns were for party fundraising purposes as he was responsible for branding most of the party materials including vehicles.
His first designs outside the party functions were released during SKC’s first memorial last year.
“It is very clear that even in death, SKC is still being loved. His branded materials are still selling like hot cakes. With good collaboration, the party and family can use this platform to make an extra income to fund other initiatives,” he said.
In a separate interview, a member of the Chilima family Joshua Valera said although the family was not officially approached for the image rights, they have no objections to the use of the same.
He said: “It will be difficult for us to police and control these people. These people are making money out of his image and it will require us to have money to police people who are making money out of it.
“Where are we going to get the money to do that? Let them make money out of it. No problem.”
Chilima died in a military plane crash alongside eight others on June 10 2024 in the Viphya Plantation
