TUT lecturer the first South African to obtain a fashion design doctorate
Dr Sipho Mbatha talks about his academic journey in studying fashion.
The Tshwane University of Technology Faculty of Arts and Design recently made history by awarding the first South African with a doctorate in Fashion Design.
After 14 long years of studying, Dr Sipho Mbatha is the first South African to complete a PhD in fashion design.
Growing up in the Vaal, Mbatha’s family realised his gift for drawing when he was only nine years old.
“My older brother would fetch me from the streets to come and draw profiles of other family members or visitors,” said Mbatha.
His grandmother and mother were dressmakers which he took an immediate liking to.
Being raised by a single mother and having four siblings, the prospect of going to university seemed like a dream.
Mbatha always struggled with academics while his twin brother excelled. Being compared to his twin motivated him to do his best and he was able to get a bursary.
Once he got to university, he joined the SRC and became the deputy president of the student party Pan Africanist Movement of Azania (Pasma).
He was also chairman of various student residences. This helped him to pay for his studies and accommodation. Mbatha also received a merit bursary from the university.
“My job as a leader and as an academic gave me a great deal of responsibility but I managed to pay for my fees.”
For his doctorate studies, Mbatha received funding of close to R400 000 from the National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka grant. It helped cover all his research work.
The father of three managed to complete his doctorate while trying to be a present father and also having a full-time job.
“Completing my doctorate and trying to run a family was the most difficult thing for me,” said Mbatha.
He hopes his work speaks for itself and will inspire his students and everyone around him. He believes people should be inspired to follow their dreams and not be forced into a job.
“It gives me a great sense of responsibility to keep inspiring students,” said Mbatha
“I need to use this to fuel me to keep improving the fashion academia.”
He believes there is a need for more South Africans to complete their postgraduate studies and hopes to see more PhDs in fashion.
Mbatha and his twin brother, affectionately known as the “Terrible Twins” plan to release a male fashion collection together.
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