UKZN Alumnus Creates Job Opportunities in Fashion Industry During Pandemic

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Fashion, entrepreneurship and leadership run in the blood of founder and Director of Qhawekazi Styles Collection Mrs Samukelisiwe Khanyile, evidenced clearly by her creation of jobs for young aspirant designers and seamstresses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wife and mother of a young child, Khanyile completed a BCom degree at UKZN in 2008, majoring in Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management, and going on to earn a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership in 2017.

‘It was such a beautiful time, especially during my undergraduate studies when I made friends I still have to this day,’ said Khanyile, who explained how she enjoyed lectures on entrepreneurship, management and supply-chain. ‘I also met my husband at UKZN so the University was a good place for me!’

Khanyile said although she never studied fashion design it became her calling. ‘I struggled a lot with my body shape in terms of finding clothes in stores as do many other African women I know because of body structure, so I started out buying tailored garments with suitable patterns and that is when I identified a gap in the market.

‘After buying and selling for three months, I decided it would be much better if I created my own collection,’ said Khanyile.

With friends, family, colleagues and the general public complimenting her on her garments and styles, she decided to open her company, Qhawekazi Styles Collection. The name is an extension of her son’s name Qhawe (Hero/King) with Qhawekazi (Heroine/Queen) being more fitting. ‘When you wear my collection you feel like a queen,’ she said.

‘I started buying fabrics, creating patterns and developing ideas that I had,’ she said.

‘I had a vision of having my own production facility so I started looking for funding opportunities.’ In 2019, she was awarded grant funding of R220 000 as well as coaching, mentorship and marketing skills development from the SAB Tholoana Programme for SMMEs.

‘We then set up our current retail and production premises in Pietermaritzburg, and bought a range of sewing machines and equipment.’

Khanyile has also received R210 000 in funding from the KZN Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, which she plans to use to expand her business.

‘My target market is working women aged 25 and above - women who love something different as we offer garments that are timeless. We use elegant, quality fabrics giving that premium feel.’ she said. In 2020, the company also started producing medical scrubs and masks and won big orders.

‘The highlight of 2020 for us was the jobs we created during the pandemic and lockdown. Our team consisted of myself, two sales assistants (one part-time, one full-time) and four seamstresses,’ said Khanyile. When orders soared, she collaborated with fashion schools in the city, and would hire their first and second-year students as casual staff.

‘During 2020 we created 20 casual jobs at a time when most businesses were retrenching - that was very pleasing. I was also happy that most of the people I worked with were young women.’

‘Our short term goal is perfecting the business model we have here in Pietermaritzburg and then to branch out provincially, nationally and eventually internationally.

‘We are working on our spring collection which will soon be available. Check out our various outlets and platforms including our website www.qhawekazi.com, our Facebook Qhawekazi Store, our Instagram Qhawekazi_Collection, and our email sam@qhawekazi.com.’

Words: Langa Mathe

Photographs: Supplied