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Rumbidzai Mhlanga, Sunday Life Reporter
Creativity and innovation has drawn attention from prominent people to Kundai Caryn Mangena, a young fashion designer.
The 19-year-old started her career two years ago driven by the love to explore ideas in her mind and put them to reality.
“Inspired by David Tlate and Pamela Creations, a local designing company I started designing my own clothes from an early age. I always loved sewing even at school. It was it the year 2017 that I displayed my first product at the Summer and Style fashion show and I won the best bag designer award that I got the confidence to design clothes for other people as the show unlocked my potential.
“I would say fashion designing runs in the family as I also learnt a lot from my mother who also is into fashion and designing and also does home interior and exterior decorations,” said Mangena.
The young fashion designer has managed to start up her own brand and has dressed a few prominent people.
“I started my brand Kaycee designs two years ago which is currently doing great, so far I have dressed well known and respected people like Ben Chest, Paula Paloma, Faith Mucha and Margaret Mwamuka when she did her live DVD launch recently. I have also dressed a couple of models.
“In terms of investing in my business I managed to save enough money to buy two sewing machines with the help of my mum who is my pillar of strength and support system as she has done all she can to help me pursue my dream,” said Mangena.
The greatest challenge Mangena faces is when people want to look expensive yet they want to underpay her.
“The economic situation is challenging in terms of prices as when material prices go up I also have to increase my charges but people do not understand that, what people do not understand the most is there is a difference between a tailor and a designer. I come up with my designs hence I cannot sell them at lower prices,” she said.
Mangena who is also a student at Nust said balancing her career and school was sometimes challenging.
“Balancing the two is sometimes tricky but I make sure I do my school work and also balance on my clients’ orders so I encourage them to place orders a month before collecting so that I take my time to produce the best.
“I have a two-year goal, I aim to open two boutiques in Bulawayo and in Harare from next year. I also plan to have my brand recognised internationally and build the first ever fashion academy here in Zimbabwe,” Mangena said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter