Today we’d like to introduce you to Sirgarde Karidza.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
With a recent position working wardrobe for the Super Bowl 55 half-time show, and soon to be released documentary by Pepsi shown on showtime. Sirgarde has been keeping his work elevating. Intrinsic, a word often used to anything that belongs with you naturally, something essential to who you are. In regards to Zimbabwean-born Atlanta raised designer Kudzanai, fashion and garment construction are inherently sewn into the fabric of his being. With his maternal grandmother being a seamstress and his paternal grandfather being a tailor, it’s no wonder that he inherited a gift in the world of fashion design. His early childhood was spent watching his grandmother make clothing not only for the family but also the community at large.
It’s during this time that he became enamored with garment construction, often customizing his own clothing. At the age of nine, he and his family migrated to the United States, landing in Houston, moving to Boston, then finally settling down in Atlanta. It was in high school that he began to truly hone in his passion for fashion design by enrolling in a sewing class. He began making his own clothes while also making custom pieces for his friends, eventually starting a clothing line. He attended Savannah State University in pursuit of a degree in marketing, eventually transferring to AIU to study fashion. It’s there he discovered that although it was beneficial, the enrichment he sought wasn’t being cultivated in the institution and he ultimately “decided he was finished.” He decided to create his own name and legacy he began to forge forward his journey in fashion on his own. The following years found Kudzanai landing numerous opportunities in styling, from magazine covers, music videos for various celebrities, and award shows, he was able to incorporate his custom garments. We now find him embarking in the release of his latest work, a one of one collection called THNK God. A collection dedicated to his gratitude for God taking his gift and making it greater. Each piece is androgynous and incorporates the use of repurposed materials as a stark reminder that God is never done, making you whole and making you new.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Although this is one of my true passions, it’s not always an easy road. Entrepreneurship is one of the toughest character-building journeys you may ever been on. Balancing time and finances has been the greatest challenge for me. Life still happens and things need to get taken care of. As an entrepreneur, you may experience days and weeks of productivity and business, then suddenly everything slows down or comes to a standstill. Keeping myself motivated and driven have been my feet with faith.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a designer and creative director for GardedNvelope, which creates and produces androgynous one of one pieces. Curated from a cultural and fashionable point of view. Reconstructed and sustainable fashion is becoming more popular. As a brand, we value quality and exclusivity. Ensuring no one else will ever have the same garment as you.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe in God and that He makes each way for me. Each path guided by Christ. It’s favor, grace, and having faith in what I’ve been blessed with.
Contact Info:
- Email: ithnkgod@gmail.com
- Website: www.ithnkgod.com
- Instagram: @sirgarde
- Facebook: Sirgarde Karidza
- Twitter: @garde_sir
Image Credits
Shy Jones Ty Pleas Sumar Kali Robinson
