Over the past two years, Lesley Manokore has been crisscrossing around the world – from New York to Abu Dhabi, and now based in Shanghai. Although the time zones keep changing, Manokore has never stopped creating.
He continued developing Babwe, a contemporary brand that honours his homeland while building a worldwide community.
Founded in 2020, perhaps Babwe’s crowning moment was a feature in New York’s iconic Times Square in late 2023. A move to the United Arab Emirates in early 2024 didn’t slow Manokore down, as he continued dropping novel one-of-one pieces; exploring his creativity and evolving his passion.
Babwe’s first release of 2025 represents a watershed moment for the global citizen and his worldwide brand.
Just one piece – a hoodie; and just one word – being.
The ‘Being’ hoodie strikes a balance between minimalist essentialism and bold expression. The front features the brand name in a simple font, together with the Caveman icon that has become familiar with the Babwe brand. The back is where all the bold expression is – an illustration of reccurring motif of the eyes, the word ‘being’ itself, and brackets (yes, brackets) coming together to create a stunning spectacle.
The hoodie comes in three all-fitting colours – brown, grey and black.
The Being hoodie is an everyday essential that can go with any wardrobe. Appropriate whether you’re dressing up or dressing down – its beauty is its adaptability. It’s a versatile piece that complements both casual and dapper aesthetics, allowing the wearer to define its vibe.
Mcheno Style Tip: If you’re going for a streetwear look, you can pair a ‘Being’ hoodie with oversized cargo pants and sneakers. For a more refined look, you can layer it under a structured coat with some chinos to match.
It took nearly two years for Babwe to release the Being hoodie, from concept to production. But why two years? Manokore answered;
”I just did not feel like the ideas we came up with were good, there was no identity to them. We had to build a story. We were looking to create a premium product and that took some learning and experiences.
“A hoodie is more than just an article of clothing—it’s a statement, a uniform for everyday life.”
The concept behind the design emerged from a desire to create a collection that embodies self-discovery and identity.
“It’s about embracing who you are in the present moment while leaving space for evolution. The idea of the blank space was —when words felt limiting, you could pick how you feel instead of being assigned something, allowing each person to define it for themselves,” explained the creative.
From inception, Babwe’s pieces have always stood out as unique. The brand has gained a reputation for niche, limited releases over the years; but the Being hoodie shows a departure from that strategy. With a hoodie, Babwe finally has something for everyone in its catalogue – a perfect entry level piece for those who want to be a part of the Babwe community.
With this cozy hoodie starting out Babwe’s 2025, we’re already expecting even more from the brand. Whether it’ll be new pieces under the Being design or completely new collections, one thing’s for sure – Babwe remains a torchbearer for Zimbabwean fashion on a global scale, taking our story to the world one piece at a time.
The Being hoodie is readily available through Babwe’s online store, with a worldwide shipping service bringing your cozy hoodie right to your doorstep. You can also stay updated on everything Babwe on their Instagram page.
