Local entrepreneurs aim high
KwaThema – Locals Thandeka Walaza and Collen Sibiya, from KwaThema, started designing sportswear in the comfort of their homes back in 2009, a first in the community of Kwatsaduza.
Describing how their business came to materialise, Walaza says she has always been into designing and making clothes and even has formal training from a design school.
She then collaborated with Sibiya, who self-taught himself to sew with her help.
“We have two lines in our business, there is Push, which is sportswear, and Individual for formal wear,” explains Walaza.
The duo say as lovers of sportswear they wanted to design and make clothing that people enjoy wearing on a daily basis or when they are going to exercise.
“Many people want to get comfortable and relaxed after work, so we saw the opportunity to give people leisure wear that is manufactured locally,” says Sibiya.
Push sportswear is made from scratch; from the designing and sewing to the printing of the logo, it’s all done by the duo.
Recently they made the move to Benoni, where they have a bigger working space to accommodate all their machinery and employees.
The move has ensured that they produce more merchandise for their clients.
“We make everything sportswear, from tracksuits to shorts and vests and, even though we are small scale we plan to expand our production level, so we can supply to small scale sports shops locally.” says Sibiya.
“When we started we produced per order, but now we have ready to wear items that customers can buy from us.”
Discussing the challenges they face, the two entrepreneurs say they are in a business that is competitive, with competition that has been in the industry for years and has the financial ability to make high quality items.
As an upcoming business they are unable to buy material that is expensive and rare to find in South Africa due to demand.
“We go to local gyms, sports clubs and shops to make people aware of our brand and where they can get hold of us,” adds Walaza.
The duo’s long term plan is to dress South African sports players and to have their sportswear available nationwide in big retail stores.
For more information visit their Facebook and Instagram pages at Pushsportswear.
