Page 61 - KZN Top Business Portfolio 2021/22- eBook

of clubs, schools, and teams are available. In addition,
RIDICULOUSLY COMFY FUNKY PANTS
Funky Pants has twenty-five agents throughout the
Tracy the founder of Funky Pants. says that the brand world and manufactures kits for international teams
was not a planned venture, but that she was inspired and clubs as well. Funky Pants is locally based; the
by her husband to start the business. “When we first fabric is printed, and the pants are manufactured in
started making pants, they were only for paddlers, Durban.
and we use to get someone to make them. They were Making a Difference
awful, they were like grandpa pants – long, baggy, and
hanging. So, I started adjusting the pattern and made Funky Pants does like to get involved in different fund
them so that when Billy and myself wore the pants, we raisers and where they can the Harker’s strive to make
were comfortable while wearing them. We both have a difference. They started by getting involved with
got different bodies and we want the best and that’s the SPCA in Durban and then progressed to the East
what we worked on until we were happy. We were London SPCA. “We basically make up a print, or they
wearing them, and we were trying them out and we make up a print, and then we sell the Funky Pants.
were adjusting them to what we wanted – a fully lined We give SPCA R50 for every pair that we sell and
mid-thigh length, paddling tight. So, it’s our comfort, it’s just a continuous thing, We like to support them.
it’s our product that we want to wear at races,” Funky pants have also been involved with The Sabrina
explained Tracy. The pants turned into Tracy’s Funky Love Fund for a few years now and they’ve sold many
Pants, which turned into Funky Pants. shorts and received money which is helping them,”
says Tracy.
Tracy and Billy used to organise surf ski paddling races
and gave away ‘Funky Pants’ as prizes for the paddlers. Being Happy
They were soon asked to bring the ‘Funky Pants’ to The future goal for Funky Pants is just to sell more
events. The first time they took them to an event, they Funky Pants. “As long as we are having a fun lifestyle
were supposed to take twenty pairs, however they with lots of memories and being happy as a family,
took two hundred pairs, which much to Tracy’s shock, that’s all we really want. We don’t want to turn into
were all sold out at the first registration party. Funky Pants into a huge empire. What drives me is
“That’s the first time we realised that this is the the kind of things that I enjoy in life and that’s what
direction we should go. In 2004, when we started keeps me going. We’ve got four children, Henry is
bringing out the Funky Pants in bright colours, we just twelve, Eddie and Lucy are twins, they are nine, and
happened to be one of the first in the world to come we’ve got the little monster, Charlie, he is seven. The
to the table with the bright funky, ridiculously comfy kids have been a big part of Funky Pants, they are our
funky pants,” says Tracy. little mascots, and they wear Funky Pants non-stop,”
concluded Tracy.
The Funky Pants brand has since grown into catering
for other sporting disciplines. These include cycling, Visit the website
running, trail running, gym, and yoga. The brand Find the perfect fit - for men, women and children
has also expanded into manufacturing swimming - from the wide range of Funky Pants available
costumes and recently sports bras. nationwide. Visit the website to order, or to find a
distributor near you.
In order to get the business started, Tracy and Billy
needed to do the long haul and went to every sporting Pick up a pair and be prepared for whatever summer
event they could. “We’ve sat there, we’ve done adventures come your way.
everything ourselves. Billy and I are a ‘mom and pop’
business operating from our garage in Durban North.
If anyone comes to us with any problem, we will do our
best to sort it out. We will handle it personally and I
don’t think that you can get that service at most places. THE FIRST IN THE
My dad helps us, and we’ve only recently increased our WORLD TO COME TO
staff complement and got some lovely girls to work THE TABLE WITH THE BRIGHT
with us. We’re a little family, we have always been
hands-on, and it really does make a difference.” FUNKY, RIDICULOUSLY COMFY
FUNKY PANTS.
Constantly Growing
The Harker’s have a library of designs and colours - Tracy Harker
that clients can select from for their pants which is
constantly growing and is possibly the largest selection
in the whole world. Personalised designs for all types

www.funkypants.co.za 59