In our conversation, John offers insight into having all these references throughout his life in which accessibility to trends or silhouettes were always slightly out of reach, and at the same time the feeling that he did not originate from one single place on the planet; rather, his varying “homes” and nationalities are all part of a greater tapestry. This led to the name “Human By Nature”; he designs for human beings across all constructed divisions; and he designs for himself, too – a rare feat in an industry where creativity and self-satisfaction is often relegated to the back in pursuit of profits or target markets.

We always tend to assume the grass is greener on the other side – and I know there is certainly that idea in South Africa in which international spaces, recognition and even manufacturing seem to be just “better” than where we currently are at here. It’s with this in mind, that John’s decision to centre Cape Town as Human By Nature’s home – after brief incubations from New York to Hong Kong –is a welcomed wake-up call to the potential we have here in our sea-side town, and the country at large, to continue pursuing locally the vision that rests here. It feels even more synchronistic that a brand born out of John’s desire to create what he couldn’t find while he was a teenager, is a sentiment we experience all across the global south; in which we tend to experience trends and styles almost an entire season later. I think this is why we have such an incredible sartorial expression occurring throughout the scene; particularly the vintage references we see in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and local designers drawing on assistance from CMT’s and wholesale fabric spaces rather than outsourcing across continents – fooled by the idea that it would be cheaper. We are doing it our own way; as is Human By Nature.  

it’s hard to say for myself, I started off making retro vintage style football jerseys since before the brand I was designing sportswear and those continued to be popular ever since I started the brand 5-6 years ago which even got the attention of four four two magazine a couple of times so we keep trying to come out with new designs once or twice a year to keep it fresh.