South Africa has a rich traditional heritage and one that is celebrated through dress and costumes that tell a unique story. Today, entrepreneur Nomafu Mdlambuzi is carrying on the family business and her mother’s original vision, creating beautiful traditional wear for her customers through her company, Ezakwantu Sewing Co-op.
LoA found out more about this passionate woman entrepreneur this month and the beautiful work she and her team create.
What does your company do?
At Ezakwantu Sewing Co-op, we manufacture traditional wear for every occasion.
"We design our garments for our customers and that is what makes each product unique and different from what must people do."
What inspired you to start your company?
The inspiration to become an entrepreneur started with my family. It’s a story that my mother used to tell me about how she started the business. When she first launched the family business, she said it was a real struggle in the early days. I wanted to make sure that her business did not die and instead could thrive in the future.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
At Ezakwantu Sewing Co-op, our customers can be confident that we deliver on time. We also work closely with our customers, giving them advice on what to wear or what not to wear. We design our garments for our customers and that is what makes each product unique and different from what must people do.
"We took the decision to run it as a family business because I was realizing my mother’s dream of what she had already created."
Tell us a little about your team
In my team we are five members - 4 women and 1 man. We took the decision to run it as a family business because I was realizing my mother’s dream of what she had already created.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My journey was not really easy when I first started out because my mother was just doing business to put food on the table, so even if I was coming from an entrepreneurial background and I had many of the same challenges. This made me even more determined to succeed, and due to the story that my mother used to tell me, it made me pull up my socks, work hard, and continue to realize the vision for the business, taking it to where it is today.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
It is to see thousands of employees, especially the youth of today that are not fully qualified, to get the same jobs and opportunities to succeed in life.
"Due to the story that my mother used to tell me, it made me pull up my socks, work hard, and continue to realize the vision for the business, taking it to where it is today."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
My mother and her story and wanting to show the youth of today that we can do it ourselves as entrepreneurs. If you see there is no job, you need to stand up and create something for you and others.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Follow your heart and always have a plan for your life. Be talkative, be easy to talk to about your business, and meet friends in life and business.
Contact Ezakwantu Sewing Co-op: ezakwantu1@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
The story of Ezakwantu and Nomafu Mdlambuzi is one of realizing a vision, preserving tradition, and upholding family values. Today, her business is building a great legacy that her family can be proud of, and showing others what is possible in the world of entrepreneurship with enough determination and sheer hard work. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa