LIMPOPO – Being a successful dressmaker requires longs hours of work, a deep focus, a lot of creativity and a love for what you do.
Tshifhiwa Mabogo from Maila village has been doing this for nearly 15 years and says the job is highly rewarding.
“You must be creative, good at drawing and have the ability to express your ideas through sketches. Knowing proper colour combinations also helps.”
Mabogo graduated in fashion design from Mavhoi Technical College.
She runs her own business from President Street in Louis Trichardt, providing a first-class service to clients.
She also sews, but specialises in ladies’ wear and traditional attire such as minwenda, traditional shoes, gwana, bracelets, traditional dresses and Misisi, and prefers to use the indigenous Vhavenda, Bapedi and Xitsonga fabrics as a means of showcasing their heritage to the world.
“Working on my sewing machine is a spiritual experience for me,” she said, and explained that her love of sewing and design had begun at a young age as she watched her gogo alter and make clothes for the family. I then started to practise the trade myself, as I was determined to become self-reliant. Today, Mabogo is her own boss, with customers from all across the local area and beyond.
Mabogo does not mind sharing the secret of her success.
“Hard work and proper customer care will make you go places.”
Her advice to other women is: “Stand up and take charge of your life. It’s high time we take back our control. Don’t depend on a man.”
Mabogo said that happiness comes first, despite the challenges she sometimes faces.
“Managing family life and running a business is not easy, but I make sure that I do what makes me happy,” she concluded.
