In just six years, Tinotenda Matayi has pushed ‘Hatiperi’ from a personal prayer to a solid brand.
He rose from humble beginnings, emerging in 2018 as part of a new crop of social media savvy creatives. Matayi quickly found the sweet spot – creating content that pushed his personal brand and built an eager market for whatever he was peddling.
During these beginnings, all Hatiperi had were white tees with the now iconic Infinity logo, being sold out of a duffle bag in the hectic streets of Harare.
Everything that happened between then and now, we can now define that as history.
Today, Matayi commands an enviable following across Zimbabwe’s top social media platforms – on 200k on X and 242k on Facebook. As for Hatiperi, the brand has grown beyond the duffle bag days and is now a fully-fledged clothing enterprise operating out of the oriental Long Cheng Plaza in Belvedere.
Quite a journey it has been. And what better way to capture the journey than where it all began – tees.
Hatiperi’s first drop of the year is a collection of Summer tees, miles away from the duffle bag days yet inspired by them. This becomes the brand’s first official release since the controversial $100 jacket.
The collection comprises four baggy tees in white, grey and black colorways. The tees’ design is up-a-notch from the usual Hatiperi drops – detailed and graphic. The standout pieces are a recreation of the historic duffle bag pic, and a timestamp of everything that has mattered in the Hatiperi journey since 2018.
Speaking to Mcheno and More, Matayi broke down the Summer tees collection as a milestone for the six-year journey that the brand has taken. He explained; “In this collection, we released 4 pieces, and 2 of them are designs that speak about our journey. The first is the duffle bag, which represents our first shop, and the second gives a brief overview of our journey since 2018. So yes, it definitely captures the journey.”
Mcheno Styling Tip: The Hatiperi Summer tees are a core streetwear piece. They can fit into any streetstyle look, but be careful with the fitting. Since these are baggy tees, the best pairing is baggy bottoms – boyfriend jeans, cargos, sweatpants. For the girlies, break the rules a bit and match the baggy tee with some biker shorts or yoga pants.
Flat-soled sneakers are a crime! Rather go for boots (Timberlands are perfect) or high-cut sneakers like Jordans. Any accessory of your choice will add character to the fit; be it a cap, shades, a watch, a bag or even last season’s bucket hat.
Matayi also shared nuggets of wisdom that have kept him consistent and committed over the six years that he has been in business. “In this business; the most important things are design, quality, efficiency, and marketing. You’ll never be the best at all four, but if you recognize the one area you’re really good at, maximize it and never look back,” he revealed.
Through his exploits that go beyond fashion, Matayi has managed to position Hatiperi as a name you can’t ignore in fashion. Most would be curious to know why Hatiperi hasn’t collaborated with any other brand within the industry. Having earned his stripes in the game, Matayi believes the onus is on other brands to reach out to Hatiperi for collaboration.
“When I look at what we’ve done with Hatiperi, local brands should be the ones coming to us and asking for collaborations. I’ll keep working until they start knocking on our doors,” he described.
Matayi’s perspective is not driven by some inflated sense of self-worth, but rather from past experiences that have made him averse to random collaborations.
“We’re ready to collaborate with brands that put in the same level of effort as we do. The last time I tried working with some individual celebrities, it ended in a lot of disappointment,” he shared.
The people remain the key ingredient to Matayi and Hatiperi’s success, including some notable names that deserve honourable mention. Six years on, Matayi’s appreciation message is as follows;
“I would thank each and every one who has ever bought from us if I could. I thank God for sending us clients. When it comes to Tumai Mafunga, Richard Jarzin, and Jah Prayzah; these three individuals have done more for the brand than just wearing it. They deserve special mention.”
It would be remiss for the main actor to take all the shine and forget the crew that makes the production possible. In that regard, Matayi didn’t forget to mention his team members at Hatiperi making it a polished act.
“And of course, I can’t forget the Hatiperi team working behind the scenes to ensure quality and efficiency. They are the most important people when it comes to the brand,” he concluded.
As for what comes next, Matayi is always one to keep his cards close to his chest. He did, however, promise that Summer tees will be coming every year, or every two to three years.
Inbetween a growing corporate order book, a booming marketing agency and the occasional TikTok skits; Matayi has set the pace for what it means to be a creative entrepreneur in a new age. From humble beginnings in his hometown of Marondera to being one of Zimbabwe’s easily mentionable names, his journey continues.
Hatiperi’s AW25 release, then, becomes a bookmark in the story – an ode to the past, defining the present and teasing the future.
You can get your Hatiperi Summer tees directly online via Instagram, X, or Facebook. You can also walk in-store at Long Cheng Plaza, Belvedere to get your piece.
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