A young fashion designer from Madombidzha is slowly making inroads into the competitive clothing-design industry. He started his venture during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, but now his clothing brand, S7FW Apparel, has grown into a stable business.
Maanda Masala is an industrial engineer by trade. After finishing matric at Muthuhadini Combined School, he completed his degree at the Vaal University of Technology.
While still at school, the fashion bug bit him, and he became involved in fashion parades and even advised his friends on what to wear. He had a unique knack for identifying the most suitable fabrics and colour combinations.
Masala said his family and friends had played a major role in helping his business grow when he had decided to venture into the fashion-design industry. "I sold to acquaintances and strangers, and our brand grew," he added. It soon became evident that Masala's personal taste in style appealed to many more people. His friends started calling his clothes "S7FW."
"As an industrial engineer, I leveraged my skills to create something new. I launched S7FW Apparel, starting with tracksuits and masks. My engineering background helped me streamline processes, optimise production, and drive innovation," he explained.
Masala believes there is a lot of untapped talent in the Vhembe District. "There are so many fashion-design schools in Vhembe, but graduates from these institutions end up doing nothing in life," he said.
He believes that good ideas start small and rely on the vision of an individual. From there, they branch out to other places, but it takes time. "People in Vhembe are highly talented and are at a stage where they can make things happen independently," he said.
"Take a chance, push harder, and transform your life. And don't wait for opportunities — create them," he said.