Fhatuwani’s ‘joie de vivre’ is echoed in his partnership with the most awarded cognac in the world, Maison Courvoisier, which now boasts a new look and packaging – an irresistible invitation to experience this spirit in a glass.
GQ South Africa caught up with Fhatuwani, to chat about his continued relationship with the award-winning cognac, Courvoisier, and giving back and redefining what it means to be a modern man.
GQ: Your partnership with the award-winning cognac, Courvoisier, is growing in leaps and bounds, please take us through it; how did it all begin and how is it going now?
Fhatuwani Mukheli (FM): It started with a conversation with one of the brand’s agency directors – Luntu Sishuba – he had been chatting with me about it for months before it actuality happened.
Then he called me mid last year saying it’s a go and the client liked me as a person and as a brand.
Right now, I can easily say this one of the best partnerships I have ever been in involved in. The brand only wants to enhance what I do and what I believe in.
They don’t want me to be anything else but myself. This is honestly the best thing any artist can have. They are a supportive structure that requires me to be the best version of myself.
GQ: What do you enjoy most about it?
FM: That I’m free and I don’t have to be nothing I’m not. If I say I have an idea, they are always onboard with it.
GQ: How is it different from other partnerships you are involved in?
FM: Everything about it. I’ve never had a partnership that doesn’t want me to say things their way or tell me not to post unnaturally a thousand times.
All they want for me is to have the best time and share that moment with my friends and family. No set or scheduled posts etc. Just be yourself Fhatuwani – it’s unreal. The best partnership ever.
GQ: What is your intention and how do you use the Courvoisier platform to further enhance others or build other creatives in the same field as you?
FM: Right now, I’m working on a mentorship program with the brand, where I’ll have a few young artists visit my studio and share my knowledge with them. I also have an exhibition coming up in Washington DC.
The brand will be helping with making sure my first solo show is a success by catering refreshments in the space and capturing the whole event on video and photography.