Interview with Kobby Klein of Tsutsublema
“A fashion stylist is someone who makes meaning from everyday clothes.”
Rising in the fashion scene, Kobby Klein is a fashion stylist based in Accra, Ghana. His brand, Tsutsublema (translating to “olden days” in the Ghanaian language of Ga) curates both African vintage and secondhand clothing from across the globe, which Klein then uses in his work.
Describing his stylistic eye as “very cinematic,” Klein says, “I love to keep it minimal but strong to communicate my ideas and emotions into frames and visuals.”
*The following responses have been edited for length and clarity.
What is the story vintage African clothing tells?
“It basically portrays ancient fashion and uniqueness in terms of style, colors, authenticity, and history, accompanied by lifestyles amongst all Black people around the world.”
Klein noted he spends days at a time thrift shopping and finding secondhand gems in Accra. After sourcing what he needs depending on his “theme” for a shoot, he often collaborates with local designers to transform the clothing to perfect his vision.
When researching a “theme” before planning a photoshoot/editoriaL, what does that process look like for you?
“I must be honest, sometimes it takes days before I settle on a theme. The process involves a lot, especially for me, like researching, reading, sketching, color analysis, finding an appropriate location, and understanding my ideas well to then execute it in style. The outcome must communicate the theme well at the end of the day. ”
Through your eyes and your experiences, what do you want people to know about fashion? What does it mean to you?
“The process of even assembling outfits is like putting together a social armor. You feel confident and protected when you know fashion. It gives you that power, you know! And that alone is a lot to keep you going.”
an interview you did with Kuulpeeps Said, “when asked about how lucrative the styling business was, he [Klein] made us understand that it is a struggle in Africa, especially in Ghana, as compared to the western world. Mostly because to some people, it’s just a hobby and people don’t invest that much in it.”
What do you think it will take for people to start investing in fashion styling within the continent?
“Fashion, like other skills in Ghana and Africa, have been overlooked for some time in the past... Today, the narrative is changing due to globalization and social media influences. The new generation is embracing these as lifetime professions by getting investors for such skills. Others self-invest, making it a big business. Even though its success is crawling slowly, the industry is doing better than before, I must admit. We just have to stay connected globally and contribute more innovative ideas to attract investors, and we will get there. ”
…see that Kuulpeeps interview here…
In that interview you also mentioned that those considering going into fashion styling “do not just aim at the money,”but “work towards leaving a legacy.”
What type of legacy would you like your work to leave?
“Well, I do wardrobe, editorial, music videos, and other kinds of styling in an artistic and retrospective way. Even though one has to work for money, if that becomes a priority you are likely to derail from your purpose or lose focus. I follow passion regardless of situation and to me that is literally a spirit horse I ride on. If you pay attention to my feeds on social media and other places, all my posts have that artistic vintage element in them, it being Western, Afrocentric, classic or street.
That’s the kind of legacy I want to leave …
‘Hub of African vintage and art,’ something people can reference.”
Klein shared with me that his favorite part of the job is meeting new people and collaborating with them. While it’s what he values most, he said at times it can also be what’s most challenging. Klein emphasized the importance of being involved and building concepts with his clients from the beginning of the creative process.
What does the future hold for African stylists who want to work within the continent?
“It’s funny how being a ‘stylist’ has become one of the most popular occupations by many social media users these days. On Instagram for instance, a lot of people have become stylists, which is a good thing because people admire it. My only concern is how it’s been overused by people just like the word ‘model’ without understanding a fashion stylist is someone who makes meaning from everyday clothes.
I think we should all have a collective goal in pushing styles just as other artists are doing.
The good thing is we have movies, music videos, editorials, magazines, media and other platforms these days to show our styles to the globe, from this continent to other places.”
What would you like to see in the fashion industry in Accra? In West Africa? Globally?
“Apart from the shows and awards being held, there should be more occasions or events to acknowledge and empower other creatives in different fields. The fashion industry involves a lot, from photographers, organizers, stylists, designers, illustrators, videographers, and producers. I believe there is a lot we can do collectively as Africans, and not just us West Africans, to compete in the world. ”
When speaking with Klein, I asked what he sees the future of Tsutsublema being. In his words, “As an artist and stylist, I am re-telling fashion, moods and lifestyles from the past eras through photos and videos. I specifically chose the brand name Tsutsublema to cover a diverse range of activities in the future.” He mentioned goals of his are to work on a major campaign and possibly launch a clothing line inspired by Tsusublema someday soon.