Receptionist sews up a second career
AFTER travelling the world in search of greener pastures without success, Fanele Malaika Nyawo, 24, realised that opportunities were in abundance if one had the right mindset.
The Richards Bay-born fashion designer is self-taught and is now making a living off her talent. She created her clothing brand They Tailor, where she sold tailored custom clothing.
She is now saving to improve and grow her business.
Nyawo said designing clothes saved her from depression caused by a lack of employment opportunities.
She said that working in hotels in South Africa and the Middle East as a hotel receptionist, she realised her job was no longer sustainable due to Covid-19. She had to reinvent herself.
“As a coping mechanism, I started flipping old clothes. I realised that I had a love for making clothing and entrepreneurship. I decided to start teaching myself how to design and make clothes by watching videos and reading articles.
Nyawo draws inspiration from her hard-working and supportive mother, and from her clients, who give her honest feedback about her work.
“There are times when I get extremely excited when I figure out how to perfect a stitch or when I draw the perfect fashion figure. There’s also frustration when things are not going as you would wish. I’m doing everything by myself.”
Nyawo works from a little studio she created in her mother’s house. She said the community and the neighbouring townships of Empangeni and Esikhawini have been very supportive of her work.
On her plans to expand her business, she wants to have a full-blown fashion house that showcases authentic African aesthetics in a modern and sustainable fashion which does not negatively affect the environment.
One of her dreams is to hire and train unskilled youth who are passionate about fashion.
“People love fashion but they don’t have the funding to get the required skills. With my experience now, I could inspire youth not to be afraid to start businesses and follow their dreams.
“Aspiring entrepreneurs must know that starting a business has its challenges. All that matters is that you remember why you started in the first place. We must embrace our failures and learn from them.”
Nyawo urged other designers in her area to work together in advancing their dreams,and encouraged people to wear local brands.