Ntshawini fashion designer breaks all the rules

Working from a small rented apartment at the KwaDukuza Market, fashion enthusiast Nokwanda Nzuza is determined to become a local fashionista with her dresses that challenge cultural norms.

Her love for fashion almost ruined her relationship with her family after she dropped out of school in Grade 10 to pursue her dream.

“I realised that my future was in fashion design and that being an academic (what the rest of my family wanted) was not going to work for me. Most of my family were not happy with my decision, however some saw my talent and supported me. I am happy they all now support what I do,” said the 23-year-old Ntshawini resident.

She said she was not doing well at school. The place she felt most at ease was sitting with her grandmother who was a dressmaker.

“I would help her with alterations and dressmaking. I inherited my talent from her and she taught me all she knew.”

Nzuza started doing alterations while in school.

“I started getting orders from people who were attending events, such as weddings and parties. That was when I decided to dump school and focus on my business and to date, I have not regretted my choice.”

After dropping out of high school, she enrolled at Ningis Academy of Fashion Design in KwaDukuza, where she earned a diploma in clothing and fashion design.

“My mother paid for my first year before funds ran out, but fortunately my business was doing well and I was able to fund the rest of my studies,” said Nzuza who says she does not enjoy recreating other people’s designs.

“I get people coming to me with a picture of people wearing certain dresses and asking if I could make it and I do. But it makes me more excited when someone challenges me to be creative!”

The innovative young woman loves to create dresses that push boundaries.

One such dress is decorated with Zulu mats (Icansi). In the Zulu culture, there is a belief that the Zulu mat cannot be used to cover a living human body. Only a corpse can be wrapped with such a mat.

Nzunza said she felt confident that she could challenge this belief.

“That dress is the most hired in my shop and people love it. This has encouraged me to come up with more unique designs which will be different from those of other fashion designers.”

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