One step at a time, Soweto youth continue to make strides in bettering their lives.
Thabang Makhudu, a rising business star and founder of Scottish Brown Studio, a Soweto fashion brand specialising in African and formal wear, has won R50 000 in the Yoco competition.
Small business owners had to send a 30-second WhatsApp audio to the community radio station Jozi FM, explaining their business and how the money might assist them in growing it.
Inspired by his grandmother, Makhudu’s fashion journey began in 2007 when he was still in primary school. He used to make clothes for his family and friends to get extra cash to help his family financially.
“My parents didn’t have money to even buy me a backpack. I then started learning how to sew and when I moved to my grandmother’s place in 2010, the love for clothes grew. My grandmother loved sewing and creating clothes, so I started helping her when she was working. I’d say I’ve been in business for 15 years now.”
Since then, he never looked back, and as the brand grew, he opened his studio in Soweto to make fashion easily accessible to the community.
“I have so much emotion, I am happy, excited and overjoyed. I've never been so proud of myself. I can't wait to renovate my studio and get the right equipment so I can make mass production and eventually open up a store.”
Makhudu’s biggest dream is to showcase in Paris and open multiple shops across South Africa.