Mbabane: The outside world and the fashion industry is driven by energetic individuals who always work hard to bring to life the much needed and latest trends that shapes the fashion and design landscape.
Ladies are always in the forefront of fashion and are doing a magnificent role in designing tailor made fashion trends and classic urban wear for men and women.
With this, it very important to note that emaswati are also on the forefront leading in the fashion Industry.
This week the Independent News had a privilege to speak to Precious Dube, a Swazi born fashion designer based in South Africa. She shares he here experience and journey in fashion.
A young vibrant 28 years old liSwati, born and bred in Eswatini, Now a running a business called, Her Royal Highness Designs (HRH) specializing on fashion design.
She grew up in Malindza where she attended both her primary and secondary school, then she went to Lusoti high school where she matriculated. From Matric she went to Vaal University of technology to do Biotechnology.
Precious says fashion taught her entrepreneurship and has opened doors she never saw herself entering, “I’ve met people I never thought I’d meet, through fashion”. With anyone wishing to follow my career path I would say they should follow their passion.
“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently” she says.
Precious explains how she fell in love with fashion while still at University.
“I discovered fashion when I was still at the Vaal doing a completely different course that is biotechnology. I would make my own clothing, people loved them and asked me where I got my clothes because they were so unique, told them I make my own clothing. Surprisingly, they asked me to make for them also, they brought their designs for me to make for them. That’s when and how I thought I should take this fashion thing serious. And I gave it a name Her Royal Highness (HRH) Designs.”
‘Back at home my mother had several sewing machines, when I was still young I would play with them, make dolls clothing and just a few things for myself. Then later in 2013 my mom started teaching me how to make a proper garment, how to cut, measure and everything, she says.
With that little training, Precious says she began to discover that she could really make something with her hands. “I made myself a fashionable dress which caught everyone’s eye. People started placing orders of the very same dresses I would wear, that’s how I discovered there really was something in my hands that has to do with fashion.’
Since then, she started her business in 2014, Her Royal Highness designs. “It’s been 6 years in Fashion, full of ups and downs and of cause learning experiences.’
‘My business focuses on high end custom made fashion for females and males. I’ve had an opportunity to work with high profile people both in eSwatini and South Africa, which includes celebrities, professionals, CEOs, as well as members of the Royal Family, She says.
Covid-19 effects
Like any other sector, fashion has also been affected by the covid-19 pandemic, which has seen governments introducing lockdowns. “It is bad and frustrating to not be able to move or do what you like which in my case is creating garments. And closing shops was really not nice at all because thats where we get money to pay our monthly bills. Lockdown took us back to our drawing board, we had to develop new strategies”.
Fashion is mostly exhibited in occasions so with this lockdown and social distancing, fashion is highly challenged.
At this level fashion designers have now been forced to make what the industry tells them to focus on, which is lounge wears, fashionable masks, with only that it’s already proven that the industry is broken.
“My client base has grown, before lockdown had to juggle between meeting deadlines for clients who are in Eswatini and South Africa. “It becomes crazy, I have to travel almost every day to make sure that my clients are satisfied with their clothes, but I enjoy it, she says.
Fashion has opened doors she never saw herself entering, “I’ve met people I never thought I’d meet, through fashion”. With anyone wishing to follow my career path I would say they should follow their passion.
The idea in following your passion is that the key to finding a great career is to identify your greatest interest (your passion) and pursue a career involving that interest. Just commit to following your passion, and you’ll have a great career.
Precious Dube is available on social platforms
Facebook: Precious Dube
Instagram: preciousdube_
Cell: +27837153882
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