Ntombikhona Zuma Tuwani from Louis Trichardt is one of the lucky ones who can call herself "boss". She runs a dressmaking business and provides her community with tailormade traditional attire and modern designs.
Tuwani says she developed a love of sewing when she was still very young. "My grandmother used to give us old clothes that we could use to make new clothes for our dolls. My dolls' closet was full of unique styles," she said.
After her teenage years, she decided to pursue a career in dressmaking. "When I told my grandmother that I was going to the then Mavhoi Technical College (now Vhembe FET College Mavhoi) in Nzhelele to study clothing and fashion design, she was so excited about it. I did not really have another alternative except to use my hands to generate an income, but this was what I wanted to do. Many people think the best thing is to go out and look for jobs, but we can also create jobs for ourselves. Everyone has hidden talents, but people do not always know how to utilise them. I never realised that I was sitting on a bag of money, until I took the initiative to stand up and fight for my future."
She says the thing that makes her different from other fashion designers is that she believes that people are what they wear. "What you wear defines you, and that's why I let my designs talk to the world."
She says that when her clients come to her and request a unique product, it allows her to express her creativity. "I create, customise and personalise both men's and women's apparel, varying and ranging from formal wear and casual wear to uniforms, work suits, bedding, house wear and accessories. All big brands once started in a small county or village by an individual who had a vision. They only branch out to other places after some time. People in Vhembe are highly talented and are at a stage where they are starting to make things happen independently," she said.