POLOKWANE – “Being a mother of four children, which includes a toddler, I also design a lot of maternity wear, not only occasional or function wear, but just about anything, ranging from casual to formal wear you can wear at home or going to work. I also make unique outfits that you can wear to functions,” she said.
Machaya explains that maternity style is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour, but there are plenty of ways to approach it, whether that means sourcing an entirely new wardrobe or cobbling together getups from what you already own.
“More than anything, there’s an opportunity to break all sorts of supposed fashion ‘rules,’ though you can avoid using ‘old school’ fashion edicts whenever, with or without a baby on the way,” Machaya advised.
Originally from Gedroogte village in Zebediela, Machaya now resides in Seshego Zone 1, where she runs her business. She is a wife to Piet and she multitasks with making clothes and taking care of their children, Boithabiso (12), Kabo (7), Didintle (5) and Mmushi (7 months).
She studied clothing production at the Seshego FET College and it is there, where she learned how to sew.
“I’m a very creative person by nature and all I needed was to learn how to sew. Now I can make my own unique patterns,” she said.
Aside from fashion, Machaya also studied sales, marketing management and office administration. She completed her fashion design practicals in 2008 and in 2009, she started Royal Wardrobe Designs. Machaya makes a variety of designer clothes, from modern tradition, wedding gowns, formal clothes, to matric dance dresses, but she mostly focuses on couture garments.
“Couture garments take time to make. This kind of style should be sewn neatly and with passion. They take time, but love and passion is written all over the garments. You can’t rush them, otherwise the end result won’t look good,” she said.
She told BONUS that what she loves most about the fashion industry is the creativity that comes with it, as well as coming up with new designs.
“My advice for those who want to follow in my footsteps is to love and have a passion for designing.”
For more information on her designs, e-mail her at chaxylady@gmail.com or follow her on social media, Instagram and Facebook.