Judy takes on the global world of fashion

She named the clothing brand after herself, Judy Sanderson, which sells worldwide through an online store and on social platforms.

She told the Herald that she believes that clothes should showcase the woman and not the other way around.

“I create pieces through a contemporary lens for the modern woman. My clothes transcend to inspire strength and confidence in the women who wears them. They are visual statements that narrate my African story and roots.”

The brand is age and timeless and effortlessly combines function with flair.

“We are a sustainable brand and therefore we respect people, animals and nature in our sourcing and production chain,” she said.

After passing Grade 12 at Merensky High School, she studied B.Com Accounting at the University of Pretoria.

She worked in Kenya and Cape Town for Procter and Gamble (P&G), an American company for six years. In 2013 she moved to China where she did her degree in fashion design in Hong Kong.

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For the past four years she has been living in Portugal with her husband and their three children.

She met her better half in Kenya while she was still with P&G.

She says living in Portugal has been an experience of constant learning and growing.

“You have to be tolerant of the food, culture, landscape and mannerisms which is quite different from South Africa.”

However the warmth of the Portuguese people has made her feel at home. She says that Europe is a beautiful continent where cultural expressions vary from country to country.

“Geographically, the distance between countries is much shorter than in Africa and the Schengen open borders agreement enables us to freely drive from one country to the other,” she added.

The well travelled young woman says her favourite country in the world is Ethopia.

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“I have travelled to the remote parts of Ethiopia of Axum and Lalibela where you enter a world like no other.

“There is a legend that the Ark of the Covenant (10 commandments) is stored in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Axum.

“In Lalibela, they carved churches from the earth as a symbolic representation of Jerusalem. It almost seems like you travelled to biblical times where lepers begged outside the synagogues. “In the early hours of the morning people come out to pray all dressed in white,” she explained.

She believes that it is fundamental for women to stand on their own feet and to go after their dreams unapologetically.

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“Before we were wives and mothers, we were individuals with dreams and aspirations.

“We should not lose track of that. I have found that by surrounding myself with people who are better than me in their respective fields, enrich me. I apply it to my life and company. Never stop learning,” she concluded.

For more information visit www.judysanderson.com and also @judysandersonofficial on both Facebook and Instagram.