Fashion Capital - Profile: Lindiwe Kuzwayo

Profile: Lindiwe Kuzwayo - Fashion Design Studios

Lindiwe is born and bred here in KwaZulu Natal. She comes from a family of 12. She is born third and is nee Dimba married to the Kuzwayo's. she attended a local school in the area of Adams mission in the 50's and finished her matric in 1965 at Montebello High school and St Francis College, Mariannhill.

She pursued a career in nursing and midwifery at King Edward Hospital in Durban. She married the late Victor Vusumuzi Kuzwayo and were blessed withfive children ranging in years between 40 and 28 years.

She got into business world because she grew up in a family of entrepreneurs as his father was a aspiring business man and in the field for years. Lindiwe is forever looking for avenues to better herself in the business sector.

LINDIWE KUZWAYO FASHION DESIGN STUDIO PTY(LTD) was founded by Lindiwe Kuzwayo in 1986. After much trial and error but with a vision to make a mark in the fashion industry Lindiwe is still determined to reach her full potential in this world of glitz and glamour.

She exhibited and showcased her designs in Mandelieu (France) in 1995 as a guest of the French Consulate. She designed garments on show for the African Renaissance Journey of the Blue Train to Victoria Falls with President Thabo Mbeki. She also exhibited in Washington D.C and Cairo- Egypt. In 1999 she judged the prestigious M-Net Face of Africa semi- and finals in Lusaka and Windhoek respectively. Her garments were also used in both shows. She has also been to International Trade Exhibitions Conferences in Budapest, Hungary, where she exhibited her garments in the Fashion Days ‘98. In 1999 she participated in the SABC 2 Culture to Couture in Johannesburg. Towards the end of 1999 she was invited to stage a fashion show in Lusaka titled "The Images of Africa" with other fashion designers from as far afield as Kenya and Congo etc.   In year 2003 and 2004   she took part in the   S.A Fashion Week Exhibition which was held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry   and Tourism Enterprise Programme.

She has been involved with the prestigious Rothmans July Fashion shows and the Gold Cup since 1993 as a designer. She won in both the Best Dressed Couple and Best Hat on Show categories. She judged the Miss Teen SA 2000 semi-finals.   In July 2000 she was invited to dress the Miss SA Teen 2000 finalists in Carnival City. Lindiwe also designed outfits to be worn by finalists in Miss SAA Flight attendant beauty pageant held on 25^th November 2000 in Kylam Race Track, an event she also judged. She has designed Matric Dance outfits that have reached the finals in the professionally designed category in the year 2000 and 2002. Her fashion has adorned may beauty contest including Miss Durban Air Zimbabwe. Recently she got involved with beauty finalist of Black Like Me on board   the Rhapsody Cruise Liner where she dressed the finalist in swimwear and ball gowns.

She also visited New York in the USA where she met leaders of the Fashion Institute of

Technology, one of the best fashion colleges in the USA, one of the best fashion colleges in the USA and were interested in linking the Lindiwe Kuzwayo Academy of fashion with their college, unfortunately this was thwarted by the September 11 disaster. Lindiwe Kuzwayo has been featured in many media coverage, TV and Radio by the SABC. Many features to highlight her career have been featured also through interviews in magazines and news papers, the recent one being feature in the True Love Magazine to celebrate Women's Day and Ten years of democracy.

Earlier this year she got involved with the SITTING PRETTY DECOREX Fashion Fundraising Save the Children project and the Tala Bridal Fair at the Tala Private Game Reserve where she showcased her bridal garments. In 2004, Lindiwe was invited to Denmark sponsored by the Royal Danish Embassy to participate and represent South Africa in the Copenhagen Fashion Fair and the Business-to-Business Project. The aim of all this is to identify a market in Denmark and to link this Fashion Academy with another in Denmark.

Amongst her many awards, she is proud of the "INKANYEZI AWARD" presented to her by the BOARD of the ADVICE   DESK for the ABUSED   2001. She was a finalist in the SABC 2 LEBONE-WOMEN ON THE MOVE 1997. She won a TWIB (Technology for Women In Business) Award in 2002. Her company has been nominated as one of   South Africa's   IMPUMELELO TOP 300 emerging empowerment companies for 2002. Last year 2005 Lindiwe received the CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD from the DURBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. She was also nominated for the UMHLANGA BUSINESS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2005 and graduated recently with a certificate on EXPORT ORIENTATION COURSE.   Lindiwe has taken part and very instrumental in the Durban July. In 2008 she won the Best Dressed Couple. Lindiwe has also participated in the DURBAN FASHION WEEK from it's inception todate. She has also received many Merits Awards through her involvement with Durban July, to name but a few, she won twice the Best Dressed Couple award scooping a prize to visit Seychelles for one week. Others are BEST HAT ON SHOW, BEST DRESSED LADY   and many more.

IN THE TOURISM SECTOR

When the idea was unveiled the CEO OF THE YEAR 2005 DURBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY embraced it because it was a vision. It was a business different from the business I was doing and for that I saw nominated as the Umhlanga Business Personality of the Year 2005 and at the glittering awards dinner at Isibaya Casino I was the finalist and received an award. This award was followed by a special award from the Chamber CEO given specially to honour that special individual chosen by the CEO and I was awarded the Umhlanga CEO of the Year 2005. I was also surprised when my B&B was nominated and finally named the runner up at another glittering function at the ICC Durban, the annual awards dinner hosted by KZN Tourism of Excellence. "This all adds up making me a shining star and I am proud of it and I promise not to disappoint people who so much believe in me."

ACHIVEMENT AS A FEMALE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

I have achieved as I am using my home as a business. It is my B&B and it is my home and I promote my country and I still continue my chores as a woman, that is caring and extending hospitality and at the end making money. I have also benefited since I do not have to worry about maintenance and the B&B is sustaining itself. Within the tourism industry you have to treat this as a registered enterprise. With the help that I got from TEP and with the Tourism Mentorship [programme and Tourism SMME Training Skills in business and management including HR, the Department of Hospitality\Tourism development programme customer care including the Indaba the path is clear. The business is fully licensed with all the relevant marketing material and star grading in place and is well marketed on some databases and websites and many article s have now been written about it because of Lindiwe's high profile in the fashion world.

ADVICE TO ATHER PEOPLE

"I would say if they dream it, go for it. You will never be alone. One step will lead you to many other steps that will lead to another step and to a exciting journey. I will also advise anyone who wants to venture into business to be passionate about it and take your vision beyond 2010 but start at tourist junction, that building has magic. Everyone there is willing to help."