INSPIRATION is the first word that comes to mind when he greets you with a bright smile and eagerly starts talking about his dreams for those in his community.
You enter through the back door into the kitchen and living room area of a rental home in Roodekop. The living room, kitchen counter and one bedroom have been set up as a make-shift tailor shop.
This is also where 37-year-old Pardon Mazenge’s dream was born to share his knowledge and skills with others – so much so that a Co-op was registered under the name, House of Ethics.
Five sewing machines and six students later, and a variety of colourful creations hanging on rails, they are ready to make their dream a reality – to build House of Ethics into a fashion house of note. In doing so, they want to create an opportunity for others to be trained to fill the gap of skilled labour in tailoring. But where did this young man come from and where was this dream born?
Discovering his talent
Born and and bred in Chitungwiza, Zimbawe Pardon comes from a family of tailors.
“My parents supported the family by tailoring. During early primary school, we would crotchet for my mother who would sell the doilies in South Africa,” he told the RECORD.
But Pardon took it further. Around Grade Four he taught himself how to master a knitting machine and began taking orders for jerseys, baby sets and other woollen products. By the time he reached Grade Seven he was also doing alterations since sewing was the core of the family business.
“In secondary school I chose fashion and fabrics as my practical subject. Zim schools promoted education with production. We were exposed to pattern-making and garment construction, which I enjoyed and excelled in,” he said.
As the best student of the year, his teachers noticed his flair and gave him extra assignments to sew. This enabled him to earn extra money for his family.
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Forced to leave Zim
“During my advanced level schooling at a day school, my father passed away. This gave me the extra responsibility of assisting mum so I started sewing after school.
“I continued sewing from home until the situation back home deteriorated. Customers became scarce as most could no longer afford tailored garments
“My mother, an active and vocal political activist at the time, advised us to seek refuge elsewhere. She feared for our future and security. My sister went to the UK after completing her diploma in clothing technology My young brother and I came to South Africa.”
Life on SA’s streets
Although they were welcomed, life was difficult. For about a month they lived on the streets.
“One day I passed by a tailoring shop in Rosettenville, and asked for a job. The owner, seeing how scruffy I was, was a bit dubious at first but gave me a chance and a the task to make pants for one of his workers. I was done in under two hours. That landed me my first job in SA.”
From there Pardon was introduced to other people like his first client, Mai Shonhiwa (or rather his angel as he calls her), who introduced him to more women. Some of these are still his clients. He worked for other people here and there before setting out to do his own thing.
House of Ethics is born
After moving to Roodekop in 2014, renting a full house and having acquired a few more machines, the idea off an NPO grew stronger with Pardon.
“I noticed the lack of skilled labour in our field. I wrestled with the idea as my wife wanted us to concentrate on building our business. I just thought I would be killing two birds with one stone if I could train and trade at the same time,” he said.
“My first student is now operating on her own. I met Aunty Pinky (Nestar) and started training her in early 2017. We shared the same ideals and wanted to uplift others. We were advised to register a Co-op as opposed to an NPO. She managed to gathered a few ladies and here I am, training women from the community as members of our Co-op.”
Reaching out
“My greatest inspiration is harmony and prosperity, freedom and equality all through responsibility – not entitlement. By helping others I will learn too. I have always valued assisting others in whatever small way I can.
“My mother always said ‘giving is putting on the shelf’. Humanity has always been my desire and philanthropy my ambition. This is my calling.
“At the moment I am training others to be better than I am,” he said with a smile and assured us that they are ready to accept work from the community.
“We can now do items such as uniforms, work suits and linen. I am aiming to perfect and grow our team to international standards. I have made several clothes for people like Mum Chichi Maponya, Mrs Noly Mantashe, Mai Shonhiwa – the list goes on,” a proud Pardon cited.
Giving it all
His wife Rose (32), who is a general nurse by profession, is part and parcel of what he will call his ‘far-sighted goal’. “Her loyalty has been incomparable. My gratitude is immense. “Not only has she put her profession on hold, but two of our three children are still in Zimbabwe. Regina (8) and Marlon (4) are with my mum back home. Darren (2) is living with us. The older two visit during their school holidays and it is difficult to be apart,” he said.
“Being an African, my values are strongly set on family and people. We say munhu vanhu which means: ‘a person is a person because of people.'”
Who is Pardon?
“Pardon is, in a nutshell, an African, non-religious man who has seen and done it all. He is fully aware and continuously evolving through learning and contemplation. I am loving and enthusiastic.
“When I look at my children, I would be happy if they could carry our culture and our Shona language to the next generation.
“When I am not working I enjoy philosophical debates, exploring history, music and being with my family.
“Few people know it but I have been to hell and back and am now grounded in myself and my values away from external influences.”
You can contact Pardon Sway via Rose (his wife): 062 256 4996 or email: houseofethics4@gmail.com
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