Nqabeni Butholezwe Msimanga (‘Mr Q’)

The Prefecture

Founder and CEO

Mr. Q’s Corridor

– –

Zimbabwe – England – Singapore

About

Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Q moved to England at the age of 13 and subsequently gained a Diploma in Graphic Design from the London College of Communication, after which he established his own textile screen printing practice in South-East London at The Biscuit Factory. In 2012, Q moved to Singapore where he worked in the fashion industry for two years before establishing The Prefecture in 2014, a bespoke menswear boutique which specialises in what he calls ‘tropical tailoring’.

Education

Diploma in Graphic Design, London College of Communication

Highlights

Mr Q is Singapore’s first black tailor and boutique owner. He has contributed to the arts and fashion scene appearing in regular magazine features and fashion shows collaborating with art galleries and other designers as well as being a columnist for the now defunct Miaja Art Journal.

Fun Fact

I have a feverish fascination with Mr Tom Ford and have designs to one day create a series of menswear summer collections for his brand…and if that doesn’t materialise then I will be as big as Mr Ford himself!

“Work hard, be honest and be patient. Keep going. When you are highly driven, obsessive about what you do and have absurdly high expectations of yourself, it is very hard to be patient. You constantly feel as though you are running behind, which in itself cultivates a very hardened sense of self-criticism. But learning to be patient is hugely rewarding and should be the basis of anything that you are committed to doing. Everything is a slow curve, everything.

Lastly, never work alone because NO ONE makes it on their own!”

Mr. Q on Entrepreneurship