In this rich and reflective episode of Listen To Your Footsteps, Kojo Baffoe sits down with renowned designer, stylist, and creative director Shaldon Kopman, founder and creative director of Naked Ape, for a conversation that is as layered as the garments he creates. Titled Wearing Wisdom, Stitching Memory, this episode weaves together the threads of personal identity, cultural heritage, global exposure, and the purpose of creativity in a constantly shifting world.

From the moment Shaldon speaks about his first steps into the fashion world as a model in Paris during apartheid-era South Africa, it becomes clear that his path was never conventional. “All I wanted to do was leave South Africa,” he says, describing how he wandered the streets of Paris with a metro pass, educating himself on art and style by walking through museums, observing people, and absorbing energy. This self-guided journey became the foundation for a creative voice rooted in purpose and introspection.

But this episode is about more than just fashion. It is about memory. It is about land. It is about stitching the past to the present in a way that carries wisdom forward. Shaldon explores his deep connection to storytelling and how his brand is a response to the colonial gaze and the commodification of culture. “We were always somebody else's version of what they thought Africa was,” he shares. Through Naked Ape, he challenges that by creating work that is deliberately African, proudly rooted in craft, and reflective of the continent’s depth and nuance.

This episode also delves into Shaldon’s reflections on masculinity, fatherhood, and emotional maturity. He speaks candidly about personal evolution and the desire to be present as a parent and as a partner. In a world often driven by bravado and performative success, his thoughts on emotional literacy and authenticity are powerful. “I am learning to be okay with stillness. To create from truth, not urgency,” he says.

You will walk away with a renewed understanding of what it means to build a creative life that is both authentic and sustainable. Whether you're in the fashion industry, a creative thinker, or someone on a personal journey of reflection and alignment, Shaldon’s voice offers valuable perspectives and an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to remember.

Shaldon Kopman, Wearing Wisdom, Stitching Memory is a rare, grounding conversation. It invites us to not only consider what we wear but to ask ourselves: What are we carrying? What are we honouring? And how can we show up in the world stitched in memory, clothed in intention?

Listen now to experience the full story.

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You can find the latest from Shaldon on shaldonkopman.com, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Recorded at Spotify Africa Joburg Studio

Show Music by Kweku 'Taygo' Baffoe

Produced by Ayob Vania