Covid the catalyst for lecturer’s clothing sideline
Mzuhleli Maduna is a lecturer by day but on the side he is the founder of the clothing brand Ushukela.
The Covid-19 hard lockdown, as with many people across SA, pushed Maduna to be innovative and find ways to make money.
The Kwazulu-natal native based in East London gets orders from all over the country through his online clothing store.
“It started in 2020 during lockdown,” Maduna said.
“I was bored after the whole country had closed and decided to design and wear my branded hoodies.”
He said people loved them and wanted to buy them.
“The name of the brand, Ushukela, is usually associated with good things; sometimes it’s money, the good life, but basically it is anything positive. I decided if I go on with this term and associate it with something that people have seen, it will trend.”
Maduna said Covid-19 affected the entertainment industry and it was hard for everyone.
The only thing that kept him going was his business, which has grown since its launch two years ago.
Maduna said one of the challenges he had faced was loadshedding and the delay in receiving his fabrics that are supplied from Johannesburg and Durban.
“The demand is high — the brand is loved and appreciated nationally,” he said.
“To make sure that I meet customers’ demands, I have sales representatives in different provinces who are responsible for managing and distributing orders.”
His clothing is designed from scratch and he has his own branding machinery at home.
“I have machinery to design and brand clothing and I use someone who is responsible for sewing the clothing.”
Maduna said customers were usually hesitant to order online and that it was best for each province have a representative.
He already has reps in the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and Northern Cape.
Within the Eastern Cape, Maduna said he had arranged with a boutique in Qonce to carry his clothing in exchange for a percentage.
“Our clothing in Qonce is found in a boutique called Stone Towers; customers can find everything they want. I am trying by all means to get our products closer to our people.”
Maduna, who manufactures all his clothing in house, said he had been looking to get more machinery.
“I have managed to get some, but I still need to get more,” he said.
He has hired 10 people to assist in selling and managing the company’s social media pages.
Maduna said he still had bigger plans for the business.
“We have seen it grow, but we want to see it expand in other provinces as well.”
Maduna started with five hoodies in lockdown “testing to see if it will work”.
“I printed and wore them, and posted on social media; 15 orders came in and ever since then I have seen it grow and become better every day.”