Meet Nkosi, eMalahleni’s young fashion trailblazer
From crafting his first outfits with needle and thread to showcasing his work at church, an 18-year-old creator is redefining luxury style for his community.
eMalahleni fashion designer Ntandoyenkosi Nkosi (18) is turning a passion for style into a growing couture initiative to make high fashion accessible.
Nkosi, the founder of YENKOSI_Couture, said his journey into fashion began with a simple belief: clothing can influence how people see themselves.
“I’ve always dreamt of looking good and being presentable. My confidence and authenticity allowed me to develop the aspiration and passion to become a designer and a fashion gentleman,” Nkosi said.
Faith and needlework launch early journey
His first major opportunity to publicly connect his faith with his passion for fashion came in 2025 at BDM Ministries, where he had a slot after graduating from the church’s Sunday school.
He spoke on ‘Presenting Christ in My Career’, using fashion as a way to explore how his creativity could become part of his career and purpose. The experience became an important milestone in his emerging fashion journey.
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Nkosi also worked with two aspiring models, creating designs for them as he began developing his own identity as a designer. His first five outfits were produced using little more than a needle and thread.
“I didn’t start with everything I needed,” he said. “I started with what I had, and that taught me that creativity is not always about having expensive equipment. Sometimes it is about being willing to begin.”
Custom couture project planned for August
For Nkosi, fashion is more than simply putting clothes together.
“We wear clothes every day, so I believe clothing should leave a lasting impression and create a spark when someone sees it,” he said. “I had heard that when a person looks good, they feel good, but I wanted to experiment and see whether I would feel the same.”
Nkosi added: “When I wore high fashion for the first time, I understood it. I felt good, and that feeling made me want to create that experience for other people.”
That vision is now taking shape through YENKOSI_Couture, with a designing project planned for August 22.
The project will feature custom-made couture pieces designed and styled according to the individual models wearing them. Nkosi aims to use the initiative to introduce people to a more expressive and maximalist approach to fashion while keeping his designs affordable.
“My goal is to take people out of their comfort zones in a positive way,” he said. “I want someone to wear a piece they once thought was unattainable and realise that high fashion can also belong to them.”
The initiative is particularly focused on young people, although Nkosi said his vision extends to people of all ages.
“I want every person, whether they are young or old, to feel confident in what they are wearing,” Nkosi said. “Fashion should not make people feel excluded. It should give them the freedom to discover another side of themselves.”
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