“Chile One Paid Only K500 Out of K12,000 for Custom Outfit” – Matanda Designers
Designers express frustration over unpaid fees for custom-made outfits while praising artists with strong business practices.
“Chile One Paid Only K500 Out of K12,000 for Custom Outfit” – Matanda Designers
Matanda Designers, a well-known design brand, recently expressed their dissatisfaction with an unpaid balance promised for creating custom-made costumes for Zambian singer Chile One.
In a recent interview with DJ Pressure T, commonly known as PMC, on Yatu Vibes, a program on Prime TV Zambia, the designers claimed that, despite an agreed-upon charge of K12,000 for the custom outfit, they only received K500 when Chile One utilised them, this was only after following him to his house
The designers described how they had devoted time and resources in making these costumes, only to be underpaid significantly. Their worries highlight an issue they say is typical in the entertainment industry, where artists sometimes rely on intermediaries for negotiations, which can lead to payment issues.
When addressing business methods among other Zambian singers, Matanda Designers contrasted Chile One’s payment processing with that of Yo Maps, another prominent artist.
According to the designers, Yo Maps works with several middlemen who frequently place orders on his behalf. These intermediaries, on the other hand, frequently underpay designers, leaving them with what Matanda described as “peanuts.”
Nonetheless, the designers underlined that they have no personal grievances towards Yo Maps, but rather are concerned with the convoluted procedure produced by the intermediaries who present themselves as designers whilst not.
The designers did applaud rapper Jemax for his direct business dealings, noting that their payments were received in whole and without trouble.
They emphasised that such a transparent arrangement is not only fair but also helpful to both the designer and the artist, as it develops a positive working relationship and ensures that both parties communicate clearly.
Matanda identified a reoccurring difficulty for designers – the obligation to deliver swiftly, despite getting materials only a day before an event. This puts pressure on designers to finish detailed work under extremely tight timelines, which some artists may interpret as delivery delays.
Matanda Designers asked the entertainment industry to acknowledge the worth of designers’ work and adhere to agreed-upon payment and schedules.
They believe that open, direct communication with artists and timely material delivery would not only boost production but also help designers and celebrities create long-term commercial connections.
