Fashion school comes to Alex

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Siphamandla Zulu (29) who is from KwaZulu Natal but raised and educated in Alexandra is seeing his dream of making it in the fashion world becoming a reality. Revealing his dream on 26 March, Siphamandla said he invested R25 000 for the school in Wynberg to train Alex youth in fashion design and marketing.

“Alexandra youth are doomed if they think government will create jobs for them. They lack ambition and only wait at street corners hoping to get employment which often is casual and unsustainable,” he said.

“They fail to exploit their talent which can help them exit poverty. They will only succeed and receive assistance if they learn to believe in themselves.”

Siphamandla developed a love for the arts while at Eastbank High School and started researching different local and international designs, fabrics and clothing brands. His friends tried to discourage him but he persevered.

After matriculating in 2008, he enrolled at Bernam Business College where he attended textile, sewing and office management courses, and after two years graduated with a diploma in business and fashion design.

With a bit of income Siphamandla acquired sewing equipment and was soon making clothes from home in Tsutsumani.

“I created my own brand called CAPC’Z and made wedding and dance dresses, corporate clothing, uniforms for Zenzeleni Primary, KwaBhekilanga and Kensington high schools, Rand Private College and still supply Urban Zulu Brand with jeans,” he said.

“Also, I facilitated a nine-month fashion design course for Caroline Fashion Enterprise in Pretoria. This exposed me to the Fabric Paper and Manufacturing Seta which is considering my application for accreditation as a service provider.”

Siphamandla also taught older women sewing at Thusong Youth Centre in 2009 and is proud that most of them still sew their own clothes and as well as sell some for income.

The school is a way of making himself available to the youth and prove how dreams can become a reality. It is equipped with five industrial and six domestic sewing machines and ironing boards. He still needs 15 more machines and work tables but will open the school in mid-April with what he has presently.

“I will enrol 20 learners for the year’s course and expect them to be dedicated and able to pay a monthly fee for operating costs and fabrics, rulers and tape measures,” he said.

For more details on the school and its location, contact Siphamandla Zulu 073 182 3979.