Chronicle Editor
Sipepisiwe Moyo, [email protected]
HEADGEAR is everywhere you look these days! From weddings and funerals to church gatherings, stunning designs are gracing the heads of ladies across the country. Whether you’re dressing for a special occasion or just attending a regular service, a beautiful headpiece can truly elevate your look.
Today, we get a glimpse into the world of Elizabeth Muzhamba Moyo, also known as Liz Millinery, who specialises in creating one-of-a-kind headwear. Her stunning pieces have been turning heads all over Zimbabwe, having been featured at a recent wedding expo at the Grand Vista Bulawayo and the Winter Expo organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs. Even Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and former model Sipho Mazibuko are proud owners of Liz Millinery’s designs.
Elizabeth shared her inspiring journey, revealing that she honed her craft by learning from a South African milliner and using the internet to discover even more creative possibilities. She’s clearly found her niche, and her beautiful headpieces are a testament to her talent and dedication.
“I earned my certificate in Millinery after being taught by a lady named Beatrice from South Africa. As I was eager to learn more and perfect my skill I started practicing the skill of custom-made headgears through YouTube. I get my inspiration from God himself who had creativity to make something out of nothing and I always pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit so I can get God’s creativity into my designs,” she said.
Elizabeth’s hand-crafted headwear is so popular that she’s able to turn her passion into a thriving business.
“I earn a living through this as orders are coming from clients who love my unique brand. All the time when I get down to design my aim is to come out with something captivating and beautiful. My goal is to make headgears that announce a person’s arrival at any event,” she stated.
She fondly remembers the pride and joy of having her designs complimented by top government officials.
“My precious moments are when we had our business conference as members of the Esteemed Business Women at Lavinia Gardens, the founder of Esteemed Business Women Sipho Mazibuko was wearing a fascinator I designed.
“I was impressed for in that very event the Honourable Minister Monica Mutsvangwa recognised the outstanding headgear and called me to the front commending my beautiful work. She said my work was international and my headgears qualify for exports to other nations. Secondly Honourable Minister Sithembiso Nyoni admired my work at the recent Bulawayo launch of the Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant.”
Despite her flourishing business, Elizabeth acknowledges the hard work and perseverance it took to reach this point. Her journey wasn’t without its challenges, but she faced them head-on.
“It took a lot of perseverance and determination for me to achieve my goal. I have faced challenges of inadequate resources in terms of materials and blocks to shape hats as all this is only available in South Africa. However, I overcame this challenge as I now travel to South Africa to acquire the materials and accessories needed for my work. I have learnt that it is wise to build baby steps towards building my brand and I know soon I will make it to the top.
“The other challenge is competition as there are many milliners coming up but I always stick to my unique designs and I know my uniqueness cannot be emulated. Everyone is unique in their own special way, the trick is to stay in your lane and not be moved by anything.”
Elizabeth also mentioned that she is teaching her daughters the same skills and expressed her ambition to enter the international market. She announced an upcoming collaboration with Touch Clothing and extended her gratitude to Sipho Mazibuko, who has consistently supported her brand by wearing her designs as a brand ambassador.
Online Reporter