Get To Know Innocent Ndlovu, Fashion Writer At Industrie Africa

This month’s Insider Spotlight takes us to South Africa with Innocent Ndlovu, a seasoned fashion writer who covers African fashion’s most prominent figures and happenings for Industrie Africa, the definitive platform for African fashion.

Who is Innocent Ndlovu?

I'm a fashion writer, based in Johannesburg. I've actually been writing for seven years now. I like to be specific about my work and refer to myself as a fashion writer rather than a content writer. I always try to focus on one thing at a time so I’m not all over the place jumping from one topic to another like fashion today, music tomorrow, another business the day after.

How did you get into writing? 

I actually got into it before I started it as a career. Before I went to study,  I guess it was something that came naturally to me. Looking back now, maybe it all started when I was in primary school. I used to win these creative writing competitions, but I never took it seriously. I just liked to write and be dramatic *laugh*.

And what about fashion? Was it a space you were interested in at an early age too?

Not really actually. Growing up I wanted to work in business or in the financial sector. Writing came up out of nowhere after I graduated from high school. I wasn't sure about the path I wanted to follow and I applied for an internship at Condé Nast here in South Africa. I ended up getting an internship at GQ Magazine South Africa where I started to see myself being a writer as a career. I discovered many interesting fashion platforms I could write for. For example, I would suggest to African fashion platforms based overseas to write for them. Surprisingly they were excited. They liked the idea of having someone on the ground to tell specific stories. 

I wasn’t only focused on fashion at the time though. I turned to music and entertainment after that experience. I wrote for MTV base Africa and MTV South Africa. I just wanted to enjoy writing, especially about emerging talents in music.

Then I went back to fashion writing for Haute Fashion Africa around 2012. That's where I really got into fashion and realized it was my calling. I was suddenly writing about all these fantastic designers, I was covering Fashion Week, featuring fashion stories. Because I was always an outsider, I discovered the industry from a different point of view. It was an interesting experience for me.

MEET THE AFRICAN FINALISTS AND WINNERS OF THE 2020 VOGUE ARABIA FASHION PRIZE, words Innocent Ndlovu for INDUSTRIE AFRICA

It can be hard to get the opportunity to write for publications at first unless you start your own blog or platform. Did you have one?

I did! But it’s not operating anymore. I had a fashion blog throughout my career writing for MTV and Haute Fashion Africa. That's where my Instagram name comes from: @theglobalspec, which means “the global spectator”. I used to report on fashion, music, and culture. I feel like being a fashion writer is not only about fashion. You need to look at the creative industry as a whole. I always try to look at it from a bigger perspective.

How  would you describe your journey as a fashion writer?

It is challenging in the beginning. Plus, we don’t have a lot of prominent fashion platforms on the continent to write for. That makes it hard. But I feel like once people get to notice your work like “oh there's an Innocent in the fashion industry from South Africa who does this or does that.” Then it does become easier.

What would you say are your biggest wins so far in this journey?

I feel like I've just been fortunate enough to work with really amazing people. From Haute fashion Africa to MTV and now Industrie Africa. It's always nice to learn from other people, to hear their experiences and what they're going through. I know people say that there are the meanest people in the fashion industry. It is a tough industry, there’s some truth to it. *laughs* But in my case I’ve been lucky to work with nice and welcoming people so far. 

SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK EMBRACES TRANS-SEASONAL COLLECTIONS, words of Innocent Ndlovu for INDUSTRIE AFRICA

What are the traits of a good fashion writer according to you? And what’s YOUR secret sauce? 

It's not gonna be a secret anymore *laugh*. It will sound very basic but first of all, you have to be inquisitive. You have to want to know more. Not only about fashion, but about other industries that may or may not even relate to fashion. As a writer it’s always a plus to know more. It's always better to know about the business of fashion in a specific country or continent, to go beyond the trends, the big names or the red carpet. It’s also important to read a lot to have a different perspective.

Then, I always try to be nice. It can sound very basic again, but that’s what I do. I've worked with people who gave me a hard time. But you always have to be professional. It’s a small world. 

What words of wisdom keep you motivated?

There are words I was taught in primary school that always stuck with me *laughs*. It goes like “Try Try Try again, If at first you don't succeed Try Try Try again”. I'm just always trying to push forward in everything that I do, trying to enjoy any situation no matter the challenge and be kind to everyone.