In 2017, I quit my job in Chengdu, China and went back to Zim with my sewing machines and a few dollars thinking I could finally start my fashion business. 😅😂
I never really liked the idea of living and working outside of Zimbabwe (unless it was to go to France, I loved France) and I would never have imagined living and working in China. However, after finishing my studies in SA in 2014 and failing to secure a job, I went back home.
I had failed to secure a job at a big fashion retail company in South Africa, I was heartbroken.(They said I should get a work permit on my own first then come to them. What?!). When I got home, I decided to get back into music,my safe place and first love.
Some time in 2015 my dad and my uncle escorted me to an audition for a show at Pakare Paye, and I managed to secure my spot on the programme, and though I never got to actually meet Tuku himself, I was ecstatic.
I came back for the concert some time later, and that night my life changed. After my performance, I saw a poster for this talent show that was happening in Harare called Dreamstar, and decided I'd try my luck.I had auditioned for Starbrite years before,but school got in the way
This was my shot. I'll fast-forward to after the talent show because my experience there needs a thread of it's own. By the end of the year 2015, I found myself getting a contract to work at an entertainment company in China. I had nothing to lose, so I took the chance.
Working at the firm wasn't always bad, but sometimes we'd do five shows in one day (three stage shows,two street shows) for two weeks non-stop. They money was good though, and because I didn't have any responsibilities back home, spending it was even better.
But something was missing. I wanted more out of life (or so I thought) than singing other artist's songs and living in a foreign country till Lord knows when. I wanted my own business, and I wanted to make my own music.
Funny enough, when these thoughts arose, the company began to experience a lot of financial crisis. We moved out of our high-end company dorm, to less than desirable communal flats. I hated it there. But I kept my composure and stayed at work
By the end of 2016,however, I began to feel the need to do my own thing and establish myself as a singer and fashion guru. I know what you're thinking. You're wondering why I didn't just do it there. I mean, that could have worked, right?
Unfortunately at the time I had little interest in learning the language or even making a name for myself there. Regrettable. So in 2017, a few of us decided not to renew our contracts with the entertainment company and travel back home for the first time since December 2015.
I bought my sewing machines and some goodies for my family, sent some ahead and followed with the rest. I don't remember just how much cash I had on me when I left, but I thought it would be enough for everything I wanted to do. To kick start my business.
No one could prepare me for the disappointment I faced when I actually started trying to put my pieces together. I mean entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, but I think being in Zimbabwe made it seem that it wasn't for me specifically. 😂
Within a few weeks, my little savings had dried up due to renovations that I had done in the small workshop my parents had offered me inside the yard. I started a Facebook page for my little business and started sharing pictures of the few things I had made or upcycled
I actually made a few sales here and there, thanks to some friends of mine. I really enjoyed making clothes, nearly as luch as I enjoyed making music. But material was pricey, electricity wasn't always available, & I couldn't afford to employ anyone to help increase productivity
In hindsight, I probably could have asked my mom for a loan, but I didn't. I was probably afraid of failure or maybe too proud to ask. I wanted to do something on my own, for once. With my own blood, sweat and tears. The idea was for my business to fund my music & vice-versa.
I tried my best, and even got a couple of custom orders here and there. I didn't really know what I was doing. I didn't take a. a lot of things into consideration, for example what the market fors custom clothing was like in my city and how my work compared to other designers'.
I loved making clothes, yes. But my skills hadn't been in practice for a long-ish time, and that affected my work quality. I also had non-industrial machinery, which meant production volume and speed was also an issue. I was good at designing, but I'd lost my garment tech finesse
When I made the choice to go home in the first place, I really felt like that was what the Lord was leading me to do. Maybe at the time, it was. Maybe it was so I could learn these lessons and share them with you like I am today. Do I regret goingback? Yes. Did I learn?Definitely
To everyone asking, yes I did leave home again. But that's a thread for another day. I think I'll do a story time about it in the future
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