Job Creator Award: From Car Boot to Cultural Icon, Streetwear Founder Wins Top Honour

South Africa faces a 62.2% youth unemployment rate, making job creation a critical challenge. Amid this landscape, entrepreneurs like Thatiso Dube are creating pathways to meaningful employment, recently securing the coveted Job Creator Award.

The Genesis of a Streetwear Empire

Dube’s journey is the ultimate comeback story. In 2008, he was designing and selling T-shirts to his friends at school. They proved so popular that he started selling them to the other kids, but he never thought of it as a business. It was Ama Kip Kip that inspired him to think of his designs as the building blocks of a brand rooted in the rebellious youth street culture of South Africa. By 2014, he opened a physical store, yet it eventually closed.

Rebuilding and Redefining Success

Where many would have seen a dead end, Dube saw a lesson. He enrolled in retail management courses and honed his skills on campaigns for major brands. Consequently, he used that knowledge to rebuild GALXBOY on a stronger foundation.

The results speak for themselves. Today, GALXBOY is a dominant force in African fashion. Recently named South Africa’s most admired brand by Brand Africa 100, the company operates 15 stores across eight provinces, alongside its strong e-commerce presence. Crucially, the brand employs over 200 young South Africans and is worn by cultural icons across the continent.

Recognising Resilience and Vision with the Job Creator Award

‘Thatiso’s story captures the spirit of resilience we aim to celebrate. Winning both the Job Creator and Medium Business awards is a powerful statement. He hasn’t just built a successful company; he has created a cultural touchstone and provided meaningful employment for hundreds of young South Africans.’

~ David Morobe, Executive General Manager for Impact Investing at Business Partners Limited

Dube’s resilience and vision have earned him two of South Africa’s top entrepreneurial honours at the 37th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards: Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® and the coveted Job Creator of the Year®.

“Setbacks don’t define you. How you respond to them does.”

~ Thatiso Dube, Founder of GALXBOY

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