Our Story
Own Your Bloc.
Bloc Footwear is an athleisure brand founded in 2021 — a celebration of South Africa's vibrant township culture where creativity, movement and freedom of expression thrive.
Mission
A brand. A movement.
Our mission is to create a brand that not only represents the energy and creativity of township life but also supports and uplifts the community. We envision a world where people from all walks of life can experience the joy of movement, feel empowered to express their individuality, and embrace their unique style.
Together, we are more than just a brand; we are a movement. Join us on our journey to celebrate creativity, movement, and freedom of expression.
Vision
Our athleisure brand is a celebration of South Africa's vibrant township culture, where creativity, movement and freedom of expression thrive. We are dedicated to producing high-quality, locally-inspired products that inspire individuals to move, explore and express themselves freely.
Core Values
What we stand on
Integrity
We make responsible decisions based on professional standards.
Inspiration
We inspire people to be empowered to pursue their ambitions.
Innovation
We encourage thoughtful, creative and inspirational ideas.
Teamwork
We build better when we work together.
Growth
We develop professionally through expanding our capabilities.
Accountability
We empower each other to take ownership of our actions.
Company History
Founded on culture and conviction.
Bloc Footwear was founded by Gift Thabiso Sithole — a sneaker lover and dancer previously endorsed by Nike and Puma — alongside co-founders Zinhle Maseko (multi award-winning IT Risk Manager at a top-4 SA bank), Vladimir Mogale (entrepreneur and business development specialist), and Tebogo Moalusi(creativepreneur, investment professional and MBA graduate).
Bloc represents a converging moment of the founders' business experiences and aspirations. We endeavour to build a scalable, connected and inspiring brand that opens opportunities for African people to build wealth and share our creative energy with the world.
Our brand ethos — "Who You Are, Where You're From" — is inspired by Gift's personal journey of overcoming challenges and stepping into confidence.
"A number can tell a thousand stories, and stories matter."
Leadership
The team
Founder & CEO
Gift Thabiso Sithole
NQF L4 Marketing · IT Diploma
Director & COO
Kristen Landsberg
MBA · PhD (current) Business Transformation
Chief Financial Officer
Vladimir Mogale
PG Dip Business Management (Henley Africa)
Chief Marketing Officer
Charles Mwape
Dip. Digital Marketing (Stellenbosch · Red & Yellow)
The Verticals
Three lanes. One Bloc.
01
Bloc Athleisure
Comfortable sports and leisure wear led by the Bloc sneaker. Sneakers today; caps, sweaters, hoodies, tracksuits and accessories to come.
02
Bloc Performance
The ideal performance sneaker for professionals in education, medical, restaurant, hospitality, fitness and domestic work sectors.
03
Bloc Athletic
A long-term ambition — a globally competitive athletic brand in disciplines like running, driven by R&D and partnerships.