Being a successful dressmaker requires longs hours bent over, deep focus, a lot of creativity and a love for what you do. Ms Tshifhiwa Mabogo from Maila village would know. She has been doing this for nearly 15 years but insists that this is a highly rewarding job.
Mabogo graduated in fashion design from Mavhoi Technical College. She runs her own business from President Street in Louis Trichardt, providing only first-class service to her clients. She does practically any kind of sewing, 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 kind of spiritual to me," she said.
She 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. She started practicing this trade herself, because she was determined to be self-reliant and able to provide for her family. Today, Mabogo is her own boss, with customers from all around the local area and beyond.
Mabogo did not mind sharing the secret of her success with the readers. "Hard work and proper customer care will make you go places."
She said that fashion design was all about being creative. According to her, you must have good colour combinations and be good at drawing and expressing your ideas in sketches.
Her advice to other women is this: "Stand up and take charge of your lives. It's high time we take back our control. Don't depend on a man," she said.
Mabogo said that happiness came first in her life, despite the challenges she sometimes faced. "Managing family life and running a business is not easy, but I make sure that I do what makes me happy."