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Shaniza Ibrahimo is the manager and part-owner (with her two sisters) of The Mansion
Tell me about The Mansion and the work you do there.
The Mansion is a multibrand clothing store — we carry Taibo Bacar, David Tlale and Diane Paris clothing.
We focus on the memorable experience the customer has in our store.
My duties as manager include ordering stock for the store, handling the accounts and making sure that everything runs smoothly.
What was your inspiration for The Mansion?
The store was designed by interior designer Donald Nxumalo.
We started off as a Taibo Bacar store, but decided to move to a multibrand store so we could have diversity and accommodate every customer and their preferred style.
The Mansion is a beauty boutique inspired by fashion lovers — three sisters who combined their common passion for fashion and created an easy access to their favourite African designers, featuring them all together in Hyde Park Corner.
The Mansion isn’t just about the clothes but rather the story behind every designer and how they created pieces that are filled with culture and originality.
How has lockdown affected the way you work and your company?
Lockdown affected our store quite a bit as we are still working on setting up our online store. At the time of lockdown, we were caught by surprise and didn’t have online sales facilities.
We are currently working on our online store to improve sales as most customers are still not comfortable with going out.
What lessons have you learnt about yourself during lockdown?
I have learnt the value of spending time with my family. I also learnt to not take going out of the house for granted, going for a walk and going out for lunch with the family.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
I wanted to be a lawyer because I have always wanted to help families that are being broken apart because of the high rate of divorce in our country.
What advice do you have for SA’s recent matriculants?
I am currently doing my final year in LLB at the University of Pretoria, Tuks, and I advise all recent matriculants to study something you are passionate about and to never give up on your dream, no matter how hard it gets.