Say yes to the dress at Indoni Brides

The difficulties around arranging her own wedding in 2014 were the beginning of a Shakaville woman’s initiation into running her very own business.

Nondumiso Maphalala (34) imports wedding gowns from China and sells or rent them out.

While she was engaged to be married she looked everywhere for her dream dress but nothing matched both her fantasy and her pocket. Finally, in desperation, she imported a dress from China.

“That is when I realised that it was actually cheaper and the quality was much better than the ones I had seen here. So the idea of opening Indoni Brides was born,” said Maphalala.

At the time she was still working as the Human Resources officer at Matobela Hospital near Bhamshela in Upper Tongaat, and did not have the capital to start a business.

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“I downloaded the pictures and started advertising on social media. It was a very risky thing to do because I had no money to buy those dresses. Imagine if I got three or four orders at the same time, it was going to be a train smash. Fortunately, I got only one order and I was able to raise the funds and deliver on time.”

From there she has not looked back. She continued advertising her dresses on social media and the demand grew.

To grow her business further she felt she should be able to provide brides with the whole package.

“I needed someone to make stunning bridesmaid dresses and suits. So when I met Sbonelo Maphumulo I knew he would be an asset to the business.

Maphumulo, who hails from the district with the same name, specialises in designing clothes for the entire wedding party.

“He is just amazing. His work is neat and he always goes the extra mile in making sure that he produces a high standard of work.”

Recently Maphalala opened a store in the KwaDukuza CBD and she is determined to make it work. At least she is optimistic her business will be more successful then her marriage.

“Even though my marriage did not work out, at least I got a business out of it,” she said with a chuckle.

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