Pearl Radzuma, a young fashion designer from Mbilwi near Thohoyandou, is living proof that creativity can pay the bills if you take it seriously.
She is the founder of Radzuma Style, a brand born from a simple but defining moment. As a child, Radzuma once spotted a dress in a newspaper and decided to sketch it. That single act sparked a lasting love for drawing, design and fashion.
Fashion, she says, always came naturally to her. From an early age, she knew she wanted to create clothing that people could wear with confidence, not just outfits that looked good on a hanger.
Her motivation runs deeper than business. Radzuma explains that her mother became pregnant at a young age and, after giving birth, was gifted a sewing machine by her maternal grandmother, so she could earn a living. The machine went unused as her mother had no interest in sewing. Ironically, it was Radzuma who later discovered a deep passion for fashion and garment-making.
"The inspiration behind my brand was the lack of creativity in many brands that are in Vhembe, so I wanted to be the first brand that uses creativity when sewing. I also got inspiration from a few brands in Cape Town like Art Club and Friends. I wanted to introduce something fun but also something you can feel comfortable in while wearing," said Radzuma.
The road, however, was far from smooth. After completing matric, she wanted to study fashion design, but her parents were unconvinced. She enrolled for law at UNISA and studied for two years before dropping out.
"I then pursued Clothing Production at Vhembe TVET College. I had to prove to my parents that I would be successful in fashion because they did not understand why anyone would give up law for fashion design. In everything I do, I had to prove everyone wrong," she said.
She initially considered naming her brand Tshitepisi, after her paternal grandfather, but later changed her mind. Radzuma explained that marriage might one day change her surname, and she wanted her family name to live on through her business, becoming a lasting legacy.
Radzuma Style, she said, was defined by premium fabrics, bold colour combinations and designs that stand out. Her long-term vision is to open the first House of Fashion in Vhembe — a space that brings together creatives from different disciplines.
One of her proudest milestones was selling her designs to international artist Monique Bingham. Looking ahead, Radzuma hopes to expand the brand nationally and inspire young people, particularly women.
"I want to see Radzuma Style in stores across the country, and I want to inspire young people, especially women, to believe that women are also capable of building successful streetwear brands," she added.