A Black South African fashion designer is receiving attention for his collection of neckties – and not in a good way. On August 27, Daniel Ngobeni, 26, of Polokwane, South Africa, was flamed online after dropping a Facebook post to promote a line of neckties reminiscent of nooses. And the name didn’t help, either. Daniel’s Rope Ties page showed photos of Black men and women, proudly, wearing the strange accessory. The post went viral.
“We Proud ourselves in bringing tomorrow’s fashion today. Daniels rope ties style is unique, simple and fashionable. We have delivered To all SA provinces, that is the Love we got,” the caption read.
Although the necktie has been exclusively sold in South Africa since 2018, most of the negative responses were from Black folks within the United States.
“I thought we wanted to take this image away. I would not wear such a bad memory of the past. But to each his own,” Mirdies Parrott wrote.
Another person, Brittany Kibbe, wrote, “This isn’t a good look given the context of lynchings in American history.”
Ngobeni responded to the negative feedback on the Facebook post, saying, “The rope tie are my work, and the motive is to change the past act and the mindset that when people see a rope, all they think is suicidal or lynching.”
“I know the history, and I’m not here to offend any family been a victim in the days. We need to change that the rope is not only used to take people’s lives but also something good can come out of the same object(rope),” he continued. “I’m not promoting suicidal or saying people should hang themself. Those who like the idea will understand and ofcos to some it will look as a bad idea. The USA journalists has been in touch, and I explained this work.”
“Past is past, and something need to change in the new Generation. It is unfortunate people has been killed by a noose, but I am, and I’m not evil.”
Even Black Twitter commented on the design.
Thoughts?? pic.twitter.com/L12GY2F13x
— 𝙈 𝙄 𝙕 𝘼 𝙍 (@mizar) August 31, 2021
And the responses gave what they were supposed to give.
I beg your pardon?! pic.twitter.com/hJygmtRe4t
— Descendant of Damballa (@Dang_Rashad) August 31, 2021
If a nigga tried to give me one of those pic.twitter.com/cNQBGqVkgm
— Hov’s Favorite Tweets (@Account11C) August 31, 2021
This is how you get your ancestors to turn their backs on you. pic.twitter.com/1lzUXGKpm4
— Inenekazi 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 (@Inenekazi1) August 31, 2021
In all my years of loving fashion and creativity, I HAVE NEVER ONCE THOUGHT, “Awwww shit! Lemme put a noose on my neck.”
And the fact that he’s proud of it–is just… pic.twitter.com/Mg2OJ8rS4K
— Keka Araújo (@KAraujoNWT) September 2, 2021
You decided to go through with this accessory? Its giving never took a black history nothing. pic.twitter.com/l4zqxfEsi2
— wanda maximoff (@kween_xoe) August 31, 2021
Me holding up one of his ties pic.twitter.com/Mx2bychoKX
— 👑 (@KingCossIII) August 31, 2021
The young designer spoke with Blavity and confirmed that he still intends to produce and sell the shi**y design.
Ngobeni also thought the noose design was fashion-forward.
“I thought, what is something new, that has never been done in fashion.”
He also referred to the necktie as a “rope of honor.”
Ok, Daniel.
