A local fashion designer, Mfezeko Cobokana (26), from Qumra in KwaBhaca, recently shared his journey from the rural outskirts of Umzimvubu Local Municipality.
He was one of the fashion designers who took part in the annual fashion show that was held by the municipality and walked away with the best established designer award at the event.
He said it was his third time of participating in the event, but his first win.
He started doing needlework at Osborne Senior Secondary School in KwaBhaca.
After he passed matric he was discovered by the municipality, who managed to take him to Durban, where he furthered his studies in fashion design.
“I am sewing casual wear and we are specialising in school uniforms most of the time. At the moment we have two schools that we are sewing for, and this had led me to have seven staff at the moment.
“I am proud to say that I trained all of them before they started working with me,” said Cobokana.
He also attended an export training programme that was hosted by Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), where the participants were taught how to sell their clothes in other countries.
“The training took two weeks. I can assure you now that I am thinking of something new that I will sew and sell.”
He encouraged young people in the fashion industry to ensure that their work is neat, and they should grab all the opportunities they get.
Cobokana said he worked hard to be where he is today, so those who want to follow in his footsteps should also work hard.
Spokesperson for the Umzimvubu Local Municipality, Nokhanyo Zembe, said the fashion show event started in 2014.
She said the intention was to promote local deigners and small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), so that they could showcase and market their products to local people.
“It is an annual event, now in its sixth Year. Cobokana is one of the products of our designer mentorship programme, which supports our local designers by providing training, sewing material and industrial machines,” said Zembe.
She confirmed that Cobokana was among the 15 beneficiaries who had participated in the designer mentorship programme since it was started.
“The progress is satisfying, as we see designers who have managed to open up their shops in areas like Mthatha and one shop in Gauteng.”
