Kefilwe Mabote Launches Influencer Book
Kefilwe Mabote - Influencer De Luxe: From Soweto to Milan
Kefilwe Mabote, one of South Africa’s leading fashion influencers, reveals the secrets of her success. In this candid autobiography-cum-guide to becoming an influencer, Kefilwe shares her personal journey, from humble beginnings in Soweto, all the way to the world’s fashion capital, Milan. Raised as an ordinary township girl by a single mother, Kefilwe overcame bullying and many more obstacles through sheer determination, having a goal and a life strategy second to none! Weaving together biography and serious business advice, this book is filled with practical tips and real-world tools for building your digital brand. Let Kefilwe inspire and equip you to go after your dreams.
We chatted to Kefilwe about the inspiration behind her book, her strategic approach to brand building and the future of influencer marketing in South Africa.
Q: What inspired you to write Influencer De Luxe: From Soweto to Milan?
A: One of the most common questions that I've always been asked in one form or another is: how did you make it? In 2018 a friend of mine suggested that I write a book to tell my story of how I made it in the Influencer industry. I thought it was a good idea, so I did it.
Q: What has your strategic approach been in building your brand as one of the most notable luxury influencers in the country?
A: Continuous innovation. That's been my approach. And what that means is always coming up with new and fresh ideas. I've always made sure that I think ahead. You have to if you want to stand out and have longevity in this industry.
Q: What types of lessons on influencer brand building can readers look forward to in your book?
A: There are a number of lessons they can look forward to. I talk in-depth about how to build a brand that's true to who you are, designing your business around your lifestyle, positioning, making sacrifices so that your brand can grow. Also giving your brand a personality. Remember, your brand must thrive on a specific trait or a few immediately identifiable traits. So, I get into all of that in my book.
Q: Is it possible to have a career as solely as an influencer in South Africa, or is it important to supplement it with other streams of income?
A: It is definitely possible to have a career solely as an influencer. However, I think having other streams of income in this day and age is also a smart move. We all know the future is not something we predict, that's why I think one needs to think broadly especially in terms of investing in other forms of businesses. However, make sure that you keep your focus on what you love and are passionate about.
Q: You run a consulting business; please can you share more about it?
A: Yes, I'm also running an image consulting business to try and help women who want to change, refine or enhance their outward appearance for personal and/or professional reasons. When my clients come for consultation, I take them through a process of lifestyle evaluation. I identify their roles and goals and then they suggest levels of dressing in different situations. I also do personal shopping to assist them in building their wardrobe. I have recently added wedding styling to my repertoire to my services.
Q: How important is business acumen in attempting to become a digital influencer?
A: No doubt that one needs to be savvy in business. But what's been most crucial for me has always been in the area of understanding feelings. I can say that's been the biggest secret behind my success in the digital influencer space. Style comes second. I don't understand business processes like someone from Harvard. My approach has always been very simple, more like Richard Branson’s. I heard him in one interview saying that “the idea that business is strictly a numbers affair has always struck me as preposterous. For one thing, I've never been particularly good at numbers but I think I've done a reasonable job with feelings. And I'm convinced it is feelings--and feelings alone--that account for the success of the Virgin brand in all its myriad forms." I totally resonate with that and that's probably been my approach too.
Q: What has one of the biggest lessons during the evolution of your brand been?
A: Staying true to who I am. Not competing with anyone else but myself. I'd say that's been the biggest lesson.
Q: What is the long-term vision for yourself and your brand?
A: My long-term vision is to grow my brand globally. I want to leave a global footprint through my digital and styling career.
Q. How do you see the South African influencer landscape evolving within the next 5 years?
A: The profession of social media ‘influencer’ in South Africa, although still young in comparison with other global markets, has boomed over the last couple of years. I think it will continue to evolve significantly in the next five years as more and more brands are starting to rely heavily on influencer marketing than they do on traditional marketing.
Q: Where can we purchase Influencer De Luxe: From Soweto to Milan?
A: At the moment the book can be purchased on Amazon or Snapplify. Later, after lockdown restrictions have been lifted, it will be available in retail stores including Exclusive Books nationwide.
