Nsonga: Setting trends in fashion

At a time most youths are lamenting over lack of jobs, 23-year-old Sandra Nsonga can proudly add designer and shop owner to her list of achievements.

From humble beginnings, Nsonga attained success at an early age after her designs achieved critical acclaim at the Malawi Fashion Week which took place in June this year.

“I responded to an advertisement on Facebook which requested up-and-coming designers to submit their designs with a brief background story about the journey they are taking in the fashion industry,” she explained.

Nsonga’s fortunes changed completely after she submitted her designs. She was among 53 designers who were chosen to showcase their works before a panel of judges in Lilongwe, 19 of which were shortlisted to take part in the Malawi Fashion Week.

“Being among the 19 was very exciting. However, being chosen as one of the top six designers at the fashion week was a stepping stone for me. I was amazed that my designs could withstand such intense competition.”

“I gained confidence in myself and I realised that I could extend my career in design if I opened my own tailoring shop where I could tailor my own designs as well as the personal designs my customers wanted made,” she said.

With a solid background in design as her mother and sisters had stints in the trade, Nsonga set out to achieve her dreams.

According to her, she sold part of her clothes and acquired a loan which she used to set up a shop in Blantyre.

Said Nsonga: “I had to overcome a lot of hurdles to get to where I am today.

I feel that my life and achievements are splendour from God which is why I chose that name for my shop.”

Through the publicity she gained from the fashion week, Nsonga’s shop was an instant success. A lot of people flocked to her tailoring shop to get some of her unique designs made.

“Malawi Fashion Week opened a lot of doors for me. I currently employ three tailors and I have numerous customers both male and female who frequent my shop.

“I also design for bridal parties, uniforms for various companies and school uniforms,” she said.

But the job is not without challenges.

“Because I am young, a lot of the companies don’t always take me seriously when I am dealing with them. Malawi also has limited resources in terms of fabric which we can use when making clothes,” she said.

To conquer these challenges, Nsonga is preparing to move her shop which she refers to as ‘humble beginnings’ to bigger premises in Blantyre where she is planning to a start selling fabric which she will buy from Dar es Salaam and China.