Moloko Baloyi, a Grade 11 learner at Makhado Comprehensive Secondary School, is determined to use her passion and talent for fashion design to establish herself in the fashion industry.
Moloko resides in Louis Trichardt and developed a love of fashion design at a very young age. During her school career, she would sometimes dress in her own designs. Encouraged by Mrs Fick, her Grade 7 teacher at Eltivillas Primary School, who often advised her to embrace her talent, she set her mind on becoming a fashion designer. "Her words motivated me to explore my talent. I spent more time crafting and learning new ways to crochet my designs. I am now what people call a 'self-taught' fashion designer because of Mrs Fick's encouragement," she said.
With her creative nature, Moloko adds colourful beads to the wool she uses for crocheting to make her designs more appealing. Currently, her brand caters only for women, featuring designs for bikinis, skirts, and dresses, among others. "Having women as my only clientele now doesn't mean I am limiting myself. Having male clientele would be an empowering challenge for me," she added.
However, as she is still a school learner with very limited funds and no formal training in fashion design yet, for her to grow in this trade is challenging. She uses the money she earns from her designs to purchase materials for new creations. She says that she would appreciate some assistance to set her on the right path to becoming a professionally recognised fashion designer. Moloko believes that if she can succeed in realising her dream, this will also inspire other young people to follow their dreams.
You can follow Moloko on her Facebook page (Sta Nyane Tsa Mangi).