The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
THE lad is known for his tennis prowess and is arguably one of Zimbabwe’s finest Davis Cup players but away from the running and sliding on the court there is another side to Takanyi Garanganga.
His deep meditations have birthed a fashion label, Garaz Tee.
“The theme of the brand ‘Being is the culture’ resembles meditation and by that I mean free of all measurement and one being able to be centred with themselves in all activity of life without interfering in the process of nature,’’ explained the 28-year-old tennis ace.
Garanganga, who is currently on tour in Portugal, revealed how the journey into fashion began.
“To me everything plays out much better when it is spontaneous, organic creation is graceful,” he said.
“I was in New York one summer and while chatting with my brother in the locker room I sent him a WhatsApp selfie. He is an artist and he sent me back a cool design of my face and I liked it and it ended there.
“However, a year later when I was home for the December tennis season break, he made me a T-shirt with that face.
“From then on my manager encouraged me to use it as a brand but I was reluctant about it. It took me another year to get into it and I started wearing the shirts for practice.”
Garanganga believes his label is slowly being embraced both at home and abroad.
“I wore the t-shirt at my manager’s house for a December cook-out and everyone seemed excited about it.
“I like fashion but at the same time my closet, or you could say my travel duffel bag, doesn’t have so many clothes.
“However, the Garaz Tee seems to fit with all apparel – chilled jeans, summer shorts or on court wear so its now a permanent feature,” he said.
