29 Jan 2019

Ms Refilwe Tshipo of Tlhaga Fashion Designs epitomises the saying that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Ms Tshipo said she has endured major challenges on her way to the business world.

The young woman from Tshane explained in an interview that the road to owning her own fashion design business was not easy, and was hopeful that many youth would derive some motivation from her story.

Growing up she said she used to dress up dolls with pieces of cloth and realised how much she loved fashion.

She said after failing her junior certificate, she went for a one-year practical work training at Peleng Community Centre in Lobatse where she got basic sewing skills.

She said the following year she fell pregnant and in order to make money, she got some temporary jobs until she went to Barolong Vocational Training Centre in Pitsane where she attained her Trade C certificate in fashion design in 2008.

Ms Tshipo said her dream to attain Trade B the following year was shattered as she could not complete it due to financial constraints since she was self-sponsored.

She stated that she quit school and found a job at Lesire le Bolomo in Otse, which was a foundation for her business because she gained experience, confidence and guidance there.

“I was able to use free hand to try out new fashion designs, and I was labelled as brilliant by many customers and management,” she said, adding that the owner of the business and her colleagues encouraged her to apply for funding to start her own business as they saw her capabilities.

Ms Tshipo explained that she decided to leap into business but experienced difficulties in coming up with a winning business proposal as it took her three years to get funding.

She said she kept pushing even after being rejected until she got funded in 2014 to the tune of P99 753.92 to carry out the project in Pitsane.

Ms Tshipo’s business does sewing, designing wedding garments, suits, ties and repairs bags.

She stated that she has customers from Ramatlabama, Sheep Farm and Good Hope and only hires employees on a temporary basis.

She said she was currently facing a challenge as she was diagnosed with a chronic illness, which has forced her to slow down.

Ms Tshipo said challenges were what made life meaningful, and that she has learnt a lot by keeping her business from collapsing.

She urged Pitsane youth to refrain from staying home and other youth to try vocational training centres. Ends