Operating in the city of Blantyre in Malawi, Terrence Thobani Ngulube is passionate about redefining luxury fashion through his contemporary clothing brand, Terry Made Designs, which specialises in ready-to-wear and custom clothes, accessories and professional styling services.
Ngulube derives motivation from bringing life to new design ideas, creating long-lasting memories through garments and playing a major role in people’s lives through style. Yet, his business is not just about enhancing personal style – it stands to make an impact in society by repurposing second-hand clothes, with a goal of minimising material waste that ends up affecting the environment.
For Ngulube, the rewards of his work come in a number of ways. While his fashion brand has been showcased at local fashion events, such as the Zomba City Festival, and featured in various publications, he says “seeing people’s faces light up when they come for the final fitting makes all the hard work worthwhile”.
Like many creative entrepreneurs, Ngulube faces challenges in business, particularly in financing and administration. As the sole operator, he finds himself wearing two hats: that of a designer and that of a business manager. It is his passion for craftsmanship and his broader societal impact through sustainable fashion that keeps him driven.
Recognising the potential of such innovative businesses, initiatives such as Création Africa have emerged to support creative and cultural entrepreneurs in making a sustainable impact on their national and regional economies. Terry Made Designs was announced as one of the top 12 finalist enterprises selected for incubation, immersion and seed funding by the French programme.
Being a Création Africa finalist has been a game-changer for Ngulube, providing him with the resources and mentorship needed to help elevate his brand. “Interacting with experts and fellow cultural entrepreneurs in the Création Africa programme has been very helpful in improving the running of my business,” he says. “I am grateful for the exposure to so many resources to grow at a larger scale”.
Beyond his own success, Ngulube sees the broader potential of the creative and cultural sectors. He believes that they hold a significant opportunity for job creation, offering young people valuable skills that can provide a decent living while contributing to sustainability and economic growth in their communities.
Blantyre, Malawi
https://iqoqo.org/ca-top-12/terry-made-designs/
Création Africa is a groundbreaking initiative by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, coordinated by the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), in partnership with UVU Africa and Bpifrance. It aims to boost and support entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi.
