The Return of Mandela

Guess who just created his own brand?

South-African ex-president has accepted that «46664» his number of prisoner in Robben Island becomes a brand and appears on polo shirts or dresses!

Source: movingimages.wordpress.com

Foundation Nelson Mandela which surely don't act , without the approval of former South African president, will launch a line of clothes called «46664 Apparel Line» in August.
The name of that collection actually referred to the number of prisoner (466) of Nelson Mandela in 1964, as the hero of the fight against apartheid has passed 27 years in prison before becoming the first president in South Africa in 94, in Robben Island's prison which is located off Capetown, in South Africa

Therefore, «46664» will soon appears on a colourful range of mens and women's clothing but still quite comfortable that will be commercialised this summer in Mandela's native country before launching it in Great Britain and in the USA hopefully next year. 
In fact, the idea of using this symbol is not new. It has first been used in London on the occasion of a concert designed to raise money for the fight against Aids.

By using fashion, Nelson Mandela kills two birds with one stone: in one hand, he raise money for his charities and in the other hand, he brings his contribution to the economic revival of the South-African textile industry which is having hard times.

Source: visfinger.blogspot.com

Singer of «U2» ,Bono has already created a range called «Edun» which is also designed to give work to Africans workshops.
But compared to him, Mandela thought bigger as his agreement has been negotiated with the largest clothing and textile manufacturer Group Seardel, which stylists has drawn the first collections. However lots of South African won't be able to afford his clothes: around 26 dollars for a t-shirt and 86 dollars for a un polo. Guess they will have to work hard to get one of those...
What's more, agency Reuters (world's largest international multimedia news agency) said the minimum wage for a farm worker is less than 200 dollars and that one quarter of the working people don't have a job!
That's good news for Mandela!
Looks like someone forgot to do some market research?

Naomi Campbell promoting «46664»
Source: telegraph.co.uk

Furthermore, no portrait of Mandela will appears on the clothes.
His laywers are actually particularly vigilants on this point and threat to take people who would use this famous number «46664» without telling the foundation to court.

In addition to direct selling, the clothes will also be sell on Internet and the raising money will help to finance development projects in Ghana, Tanzania or Mozambique.
Thus, Foundation Nelson Mandela will touch its part that is between 7 and 9% of its turnover plus a bonus of 143.000 dollars.
That is what we called being generous! What about you? Are you generous?


Source: Le Figaro