By: Wendy Manjeya
Kholiswa Seti, a rising star who was recently recognised at the Sara Baartman District Women Entrepreneurs Awards (WEA), is no stranger to ambition. The Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Department recognised not only her fashion business, Kholi Designs, but also her role in boosting Makhanda’s economy and creating jobs through fashion.
Seti’s win is perfect timing. Having identified a niche market for her designs, she has been planning solo marketing ventures like pop-up stalls to showcase her creations. The R20,000 award will provide the financial boost she needs to turn these plans into action. A familiar face at events like the National Arts Festival, Seti offers a diverse range of clothing, including traditional wear, casual attire and matric dance dresses. Her current collection, perfectly timed for the recent festival, featured winter wear.
Seti’s entrepreneurial spirit is fuelled by a dream of transforming Kholi Designs into a full-fledged factory, which will create jobs in Makhanda. “Slowly but surely my dreams are coming true,” she told Vutivi News. “One day I want to open a big factory, and hire people. I want to create job opportunities.” This factory would take her current production to a whole new level, with a plan to supply stores with her designs.
Seti said the award was more than just recognition; it showed that her business was growing. “The competition was very strict. They check if a person pays taxes and has all the paperwork. So, winning the overall award is a huge deal. “It shows a lot about me, especially considering some competitors have big farms. But when I won, I was amazed.”
This is not the first time Seti has dealt with the department. Last year she used funding from them to buy an industrial sewing machine and an overlocker which enabled her to meet her production targets. Her current team consists of three people: one full-time employee and two part-time assistants. And Kholi Designs is now a profitable venture. “I’m able to fix everything and still have a profit left in the bank,” she said proudly.
