13 Feb 2018

Naeemah Fashions, a Mochudi based company that has won many hearts with its artistic and neatly tailor-made designs, is determined to deliver excellent service to its customers.

The company belongs to two bubbly individuals, Tlamelo Tshinangwe, born and bred in Mochudi and a Zimbabwean national, Naeem Kasisi.

Speaking to BOPA in an interview, Tshinangwe said he met Kasisi through a mutual friend in 2014 and they established the company in November 2015.

Tshinangwe was born in a family of tailors, but he never paid much attention except for learning the basics.

“When I met Naeem, he introduced me to design work and I made suits and he was impressed by my craft,” he added.

“I studied Electrical Engineering at tertiary school, but I discovered it was not meant for me, so I ended up discovering my love for fashion designing,” he explained.

Kasisi started sewing when he was just 15 years old and he later quit and tried other means of living such as farming and mining, but later went back to his first love, designing.

“I was inspired by my father to be a better designer I am today because he loved tailoring even when he was not getting income from it,” said the 26-year-old man.

He however said their journey to success was not an easy road, as they met challenges that moulded them to press on to what they love.

Kasisi said they started their company from scratch with no sponsors and they used income they got from their previous jobs to start it.

“We started on a one-roomed house that had only one sewing machine, one iron and a pair of scissor and people despised us, but that did not demoralise us, we kept on going until we got a wedding order that exposed our work,” he explained.

The business started to get exposure and they began to get recognition from villagers.

One thing that makes Naeemah Fashions extraordinary is the love they have to work with young people. The company has engaged four youths apprentice on fashion designs.

“We offer free lessons to these youths so that they get experience and can make a living from fashion design,” said Tshinangwe.

He further said their desire was to see the youth being engaged in such projects and being able to stand independently.

The duo aspires to go international, but want to start by participating in local expos for more exposure; they are also eager to learn.

They also appreciate their competitors’ work such as KeNo Suits as they are also dominating the fashion design industry.

“I wish for more expansion of our business and I would like to ask for youth grant this year so that we can buy more equipment,” Tshinangwe said. ENDS