Shikwambana has been named 2022 Best Designer/Stylist of the Year at the Salon International du Textile African (SITA) awards in Togo recently. He impressed the judges with his fashion brand, R.Shiks, and his craftsmanship, creativity, workmanship, and alignment with the theme. They were judged in four categories which included traditional, evening, creativity, and business outfits.

His distinctive style made him outshine 47 other designers from the continent, as his work unanimously got a nod of approval from the judges. Shikwambana was born and raised in the late Bishop Nelson and Mabel Shikwambana in Dan village to a large family of eleven children, six boys, and five girls. The 30-year-old told the Herald that he only realised that he had a passion for fashion during his high school years when he started sewing hand-stitched bags.

Also read: Hoedie’s woman is one of three in Africa to win AirBnB design prize

However, after Grade 12 he enrolled in electrical engineering but later ditched it for fashion design, which he completed in 2013. After completing his studies, he worked at Phumi’s Boutique in Johannesburg where he was quickly promoted to manager. However, in 2017 he decided move to Polokwane to start his own brand which he has since built into an international label.

The saying that ‘behind every successful man, there is a woman’, seems to be true for Shikwambana. He has been working alongside his wife, Gift Rakgoale, and the pair makes a formidable team. Follow R.Shiks on social media platforms for more on his work.