Sangoma who found his calling designing frocks

IT’S ALL about understated elegance that makes a bold statement.

That’s the philosophy of local designer, Muzi Mlambo, who trained as a sangoma before turning to a career in fashion.

With no formal fashion design training, Mlambo took the title as Emerging Designer of The Year at the gala awards ceremony at the Durban Fashion Fair showcase last weekend.

The Independent on Saturday visited Mlambo at his studio on Yusuf Dadoo Street this week which he described as “tiny, but this is where the magic happens”.

His journey into the heart of fashion started when he was young and used to watch his mother sewing at home.

“She was a dressmaker and a machinist. When I was small, I would sit next to her at the sewing machine. I would admire what she was doing and I fell in love with sewing,” he said,

When he was in Grade 10 his mother gave him a few lessons.

“After finishing matric, there was no money for tertiary education and I knew I had to do what I knew – which was sewing. My talent was raw and I did not know the kind of designer I wanted to be, so it has taken years of work.

“It would have been easier if I had been able to get some formal training,” he said.

But those years of honing his skills on his own finally paid off when he was introduced to local designer Zama Mathe of Zarth label, who became his mentor.

“It made such a difference, she introduced me to the Durban Fashion Fair and so many doors opened for me,” he said.

Having also trained as a sangoma, he spent a number of years questioning his direction.

“I am a spiritual person. Being a sangoma is a calling, it’s not just about giving medicine, but the skills I learned I now also apply to my design business.”

His label Mita- N is named after his late grandmother Mita Ntombela who had a profound effect on his life.