City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
The creator of the popular Madiba shirts is quietly putting the finishing touches to his plan to build an African ethnic clothing empire. Vukani Range Creations CEO Sonwabile Ndamase dreams of cracking the big time - owning retail stores. "We would like to take advantage of opportunities presented by the Africa Growth & Opportunity Act,Vukani, which operates out of central Johannesburg, makes corporate outfits and individual designs. Vukani designed outfits for the SA team to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and 2004 for Athens and costumes for the opening ceremony of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Sandton. The face of his label is no less a personality than former president Nelson Mandela. As a member of the royal Phondo family, he was guaranteed a smoother passage through life. "My family did not support me when I started my clothing design career because it was viewed as a female occupation," he says. Ndamase put up his own money to start Vukani Creation in 1988. "Vukani's first corporate contract was with a church choir in 1995, but the Madiba shirts gave the company its greatest exposure," he says. The 20 employees, including tailors, pattern makers, assistant designers and three administrative personnel, can produce 200 shirts, shorts, T-shirts, caps or dresses a week. "We outsource work to companies that cut and trim when we have orders of more than 500 pieces," says Ndamase. He estimates that the ethnic fashion business is worth about R1, 5bn/year and growing. Ndamase is the founder of the SA Fashion Designers Association Institute, a forum that helps young designers by lobbying for better market access for their work. It also puts together the Annual Vukani Fashion Week. His organisation is not new in the market, they have handled deals worth R5,6million, from the Welfare Anti Poverty Programme Plan, SABC Top Sport Corporate Wear, Department of Arts and Culture Corporate Wear, to mention but a few, says Ndamase. Specialties: Clothing Designer, Fashion Consultant, Branding and Identity, Manufacture of Coporate, Event Management, Fashion Show and Exhibitions to mention but a few.
Strategic Consulting, including business plan & sales strategy development. Advising new businesses on formation of corporations and business structures, drafting privacy policies and structuring commercial transactions.