We have tried to keep our identities away from Monochrome for a while. We wanted people to recognise Monochrome as a brand first and not who is behind it. We wanted our work to speak for us. People not knowing who we are was actually fun and made it easier for us to work and break into the industry smoothly.
However, we can’t hide anymore.
So as part of our “rebranding” we’ve decide to do a “Meet the team” so you guys know us and our story a little better.
Happy Read!
Betty Sibeso
Hello, hi. My name is Betty, creator and co-founder of Monochrome Magazine. I’m crazy about the creative industry and knew from a young age that Arts was what I’d do after school. So after high school I did just that. 4 Years of Visual Arts. It was in my last year, while I interned at a local current affairs magazine that I got the idea to start a fashion magazine. I had been working as a graphic designer but I got to learn what running a magazine actually entailed. I had suggested it to my boss at the time and he laughed at me. Said it wouldn’t work in Namibia. I was so stuck on the idea I didn’t give it up. It had actually been a dream of mine since I was in high school and felt the reason my first ever internship/real job being at a magazine was a sign. So I came up with a name, conceptualised it and pitched it to my friends. Disney was so thrilled and keen. She has a great fashion sense and an eye for good design that I always tease she too should have done arts. We had common interests so the partnership was perfect. Long story short. That was how Monochrome was born.
Passionate about….. Right now, I’m passionated about contributing to the growth of Namibia’s creative industry. We have so much work to do, I’m just glad so many people are putting in the work. I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My friends call me… Bee or Berry
If I had to live my life over… Mmmh I don’t know, but I’d hope my parents live long enough to share my proudest moments with me.
Something you don’t know about me… I seem very quiet and reserved but I’m kinda wild when you get to know me. Haha
My favourite thing in the world… My bed, omg that’s the actual love of my life.
Favourite quote… It’s actually from a quote; “No one else knows what they are doing either”
What it means to me… There is no blueprint to life. No one, even those who seem so, knows what they are doing. We are all just taking chances, making decisions as we go. The only difference is we are put in unique situations and circumstances. Which in it’s entirety means we are all running our own races, jumping our own hurdles, fighting our own battles.
What Monochrome means to me… my first love, first born, saviour even. Sometimes I think it healed/ or helped me start to heal. My 2013 was wreck, I lost my sister, which led me to drop out of varsity, last semester of my last year. A wreck I say. But it was also the year Monochrome was born. So yeah, my saviour.
Where I see it in 5 years… Yo. A media house. A power house.
Monochrome moment I am most proud of… I still think it’s that Saturday, October 1st. The Great Pop Up. Realising we actually pulled it off!
Disney Andreas
Top : N O A H, Bottoms: Honeycassie | Photo: Martin Amushendje
Hi. I am the creative director and co-founder of Monochrome Magazine and love all things fashion. A map has always fascinated me and the entire spectrum of Geography. I believe i can do anything I set my mind to through hard work and reserving our environment for the future generation to even enjoy the perks of life is exactly what I set my mind to after high school. Varsity was such an exciting time for me, exposed to so many different people, ideas, dreams and aspirations. In all this, I met Betty through a close friend, friend snatcher much?! *evil laugh. We are still all close friends and i couldn’t ask for a better clique. Betty and I shared so many thoughts on fashion, Arts, and creatives in general. I loved how she would put one and two together whenever she had an assignment and she would always ask for my insight and at some point i could not leave the arts department, I’d even miss some of my lectures *mom if you are reading this, just picture a huge, ear-to-ear smile on my face. That’s how much i knew Betty and I could make something out of her baby. So, when I’m not going crazy on deadlines, you can find me having a good bottle of anything with close friends.
What Monochrome means to me… Well, will it be cliché if I said it, meant everything to me? The fact that we get to celebrate Namibian talent, gives me life and a purpose. I want Monochrome to have a voice that keeps advocating for our own talents/brands/socialites/fashion/music/culture you name it and that on its own means the world to me.
Where I see it in five years… I see Monochrome as an empire in the next 5 years. Something our people can be proud to call or say “Proudly Namibian by Namibians”. An establishment that can be referenced one day on an international level. Recognized world-wide. That is where I see Monochrome in the next 5 years
Monochromes moment I am most proud of… When we decided to officially host our magazine online and that is today, now. I will forever cherish this moment.
My passion… My passion in all honesty is making sure everyone feels safe and loved. No need to worry about tomorrows worries if I can give a helping hand.
Favorite quote “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time”- Maya Angelou
How do you relate… – I’ve learnt this the hard way. Always being heartbroken from lovers and friends and it has come to a point where I lost who I was for a second. NEVER AGAIN.
My friends call me… D
If I had to live my life over… Don’t think I would because I would not be where I am today.
Something you don’t know about me… I am a huge flirt. At least I think I am. LAG
My favourite thing in the world... Bacon
The best advice I ever got… that nothing is ever fixed. At some point, it will change, It always does.
Your playlist on shuffle: Yes. I love the randomness of different genres. Gives me a new perspective.
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