By Palesa Ndinisa
Valentinas Methula, 35, also know as ‘Valentinas Kafungo’, born and buttered in Tsakane unpacks and tells all on his creative business highs and lows.
Methula started his entrepreneurial journey after he dropped out of varsity in 2017. The eloquent young man developed love for inventiveness as he experimented with fragrance formulas. Alluding that he is multidisciplinary entrepreneur and creative strategist, Methula describes his work as an intersection of culture, design and heritage storytelling. “I started with fragrance crafting under the Valentinas Kafungo name, creating unique colognes that represented luxury. Now I’ve expanded into Wimbledon OMNYAMA, a brand that merges black heritage and modern elegance, starting with our debut jersey drop called UMLILWANA LEGACY JERSEY- a unisex piece that combines sports style with township authenticity. In my belief, a fragrance is personal. It is a memory, confidence and identity bottled. I wanted to create scents that smell like home, heritage and elegance. My first scent, Minenhle, was a tribute to African sophistication,” gracefully expressed Methula.
The talented individual mentions that some of the challenges he faces are access to funding, manufacturing resources and breaking into competitive markets. Although the business is self-funded, Methula remains appreciative of the community that supports him and is open to collaborations with businesses and brands that share the values and designs of African heritage, excellence and sustainability. Despite the challenges, the passionate young man reveals that vision, consistency and the support he receives from his supporters keep him pushing forward.
“My advice for people who would like to pursue entrepreneurship in the creative space is that you need to start small, stay consistent, and let your story lead your product. Don’t rush for trends build something meaningful that solves a problem or expresses a truth. And remember: It’s okay to start with nothing but a dream, as long as you move with purpose,” concluded Methula.
Perfumes and fashion jerseys are available through direct order on WhatsApp Business on the number 062 123 7720. As an alternative, Methula can be reached on email at valentinaskafungo@gmail.com and ‘Wimbledon Omnyama’ on Instagram.
Pop up activations are also available for perfumes while an online store is currently in progress to house both perfumes and fashion line products under one umbrella.
