Hambanathi fashion designer furthers her mother’s legacy one dress at a time

A vibrant young fashion designer from Hambanathi is making a big impression in Tongaat with her outstanding designs.

Lungi Msomi has been showcasing her talent in fashion shows around Durban and won the 2018 Highway Radio traditional wedding gown competition.

She used the R10 000 cash prize to buy her first industrial sewing machine.

The 31-year-old said she learnt to use a sewing machine from her mother who was a dressmaker in Empangeni.

“I was motivated to pursue a career in the fashion world when my father lost his job and we depended on my mother’s dressmaking business for food. It was then I realised that I could live with making dresses, but I promised myself that I need to grow and go where my mother could not, ” said Msomi.

Her first step was getting a qualification for the job she wanted to do.

So she enrolled at the Durban University of Technology and got her fashion designer diploma in 2016.

“I was working in different clothing factories around Durban as a pattern maker, while I was running my own business from home.”

Her sister, Xolile (38) encouraged her to focus more on her business and quit her job to be able to help her younger sister to run her company Luzopho Creations.

“I must express my gratitude to my sister because she is the one who volunteered to stay at my office in town while I am still at work. She keeps everything going and her knowledge and skills help me to grow.”

The 2009 Thelokuhle High School matriculant also does pattern making for other fashion designers around KwaZulu-Natal.