admin
Mary Doma Lifestyle Writer
Life is for learning, and that’s how I feel about business too.
I was in no way prepared to really pursue a traditional sense of business when I was younger, these were the words were of Takudzwa Chitsike, a jewellery designer who graduated with a law degree.
When you see her jewellery it’s pretty clear she was destined for a creative career. Born in Harare, she sells her creations at flea markets, fairs and various stores in Harare and Bulawayo. Her jewellery is light and whimsical, feminine and timeless, and, above all, easy to wear.
Takudzwa’s jewellery has been featured in magazines like Jewel and various newspapers.
“When I create my jewellery I envision them being bought by each and every women in this world, although I also make items by request,” said Takudzwa.
“My job is to make my clients very happy with my designs,” she said
Takudzwa owns two brands; Dee-kaw-zee and M’cheno which she started five years ago.
“I didn’t go to school for jewellery design but I now have a high end jewellery line currently in the works,” said Chitsike.
M’cheno is the entity that runs a young designers mentoring programme, community development programmes and also where African accessory designers go to distribute their products.
She started M’cheno programme to teach other how to make a passion or hobby into a viable business.
“I started the mentorship programme to teach others how to make and also market and sell their products, because it doesn’t mean if you can make something you can also sell,” she said.
“I believe in giving people opportunities,” she said
“I also sell jewellery on behalf of other designers like Jane kay and Humba couture,” she added
Dee-Kaw-Zee is a beaded design house that produces elegant costume jewellery and other beaded accessories.
One of the brand ambassador for Dee-kaw-zee is Candice Mwakalyelye, a news reader for Zifm Stereo and she says she has been privileged to have her jewellery worn by celebrities like Prudence Katomeni, Shingai Shonhiwa, Plaxedis Wenyika and Adiona.
“I also make jewellery for themed weddings for the bride and her bride maids,” said Takudzwa.
She makes the jewellery out of animal skins, beads, pearls, stones, fabric, leather, gold, metal and silver which she sources from anywhere around the world. All friends and family that travel are asked to bring her material for making new designs.
Chitsike says she began by buying a small design kit and looked for materials to use and was consciously aware of the difficulties entailed.
“I decided that it was a good road to take; to make the passion of creating beautiful things with my hands not as a hobby, but my work.
“The first few years were dedicated to learning all the technicalities, to know and master everything about the materials and to finally find my own way,” she said .
She said getting to this point in her pursuit of having a jewellery business has been a big collaboration of trusting her own creativity and persistence in times of hardship, investing in and appreciating the relationships that she developed in such an inspiring community of people and taking time to seek out advice, practice, and learning to prepare herself for each step along the way.
“I think the greatest challenge I’ve faced as a jewellery designer is to embrace the side of me that is entrepreneurial and creative and express it fearlessly, it is not a conventional career choice,” Takudzwa said.
“When you run your own business, you have to live it 24/7 and I believe in trying to continue to grow, learn and understand my business,” she added.
“It’s been a great ride and experience, watching the vision that I had growing is my career highlight five years in the making but I have learnt to be patient,” she added.
“I draw my inspiration from every- thing and everywhere and also from my customers, looking at what has been selling and thinking about how to make some new exciting pieces customers will respond to,or maybe there’s a colour missing from my collections I’d like to insert.
“With your own business, there is rarely any real downtime! You learn to have a thick skin and be persistent: Learning about business basics, taking a good look at your own style — what are you trying to make/sell? Who is the person who would buy your designs? ”
Takudzwa says through the journey in her career, she is constantly gaining knowledge while being opened up to needing to learn more and more to progress beyond where she has already been.
“ The more I have progressed and focused in my jewellery business, the more I have loved it and sought to gain deeper knowledge. It is amazing how you grow when you are doing something you are passionate about,” said Chitsike
She says that the experiences in the last five years in business has chocked her up with a prodigious vision into journeying into business through a difficult road.
“And I’m excited to say that I am mounting to greater heights,” she added.
“I do not have a shop because I have always gone against the norm of being conventional. It’s a tough market because of the cheap jewellery imports being sold in town.
“When you want to sell your products at their market value, customers won’t see it for the value and instead compare with the other shops in town,” said Takudzwa.
However, her online presence has played a big role in pushing the business to greater heights because through social media, customers have emerged.
Online Reporter