From a banker to a trendsetter Zanele Tshabalala, co-founder of Inkanyezi Collection uses traditional African fabrics to design shoes and purses.
Tshabalala said she used to be a violinist before she worked as a banker for 10 years but because she had artistic skills she resigned last year.
“My uncle Gordon Kgabashane who is now deceased used to be a well-known artist.
“I remember the email I sent to the team telling them that banking was not for me anymore and I was going to do whatever interested me.
“I then studied accounting which was what I always wanted to do,” said Tshabalala.
Tshabalala regretted resigning at first and had attended a few interviews but with all her experience and qualification she couldn’t get a job.
“Maybe that was a sign that I had to do something different,” she said.
She met Franco Kamanga who is the owner of For My Kids (FMK) who handprints t-shirts and he introduced me to a guy who manufactures shoes.
“Kamanga is into t-shirt printing but we sometimes share ideas on how to design shoes.
“We are currently working on a male collection,” said Tshabalala.
According to Tshabalala, she designs shoes and takes them to shoemakers who make the shoes from scratch.
“They are training me and I am proud to say I can now cut patterns. I never studied designing; I just got interested and went for it. Ideas kept on flowing in my head,” explained Tshabalala.
Tshabalala said she wants people to wear her collection every day and not only in social events.
“I attend street markets and business expos because I meet like-minded people at those events.
“My collection will also create employment opportunities and I now have three agents working for me.
“I want to explore all the fabrics in Africa and this month’s collection is from Ghana.
“Am currently working with ‘ceka’ which is a traditional Tsonga material,” said Tshabalala.
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