TikTok’s Mandisi Tshingana starts new hustle selling his signature pinafores

Mandisi Tshingana, a TikTok star known for his side-splitting videos, has embarked on a new business venture — selling pinafores, his “signature prop” in his skits.

With more than one-million followers, Tshingana has captured the hearts of fans across the globe, with many wanting to order the domestic worker’s uniforms he wears in his skits.

The award-winning artist works as a full-time engineer and in his free time creates his social media videos, portraying domestic workers.

After the success of his TikTok videos, Tshingana said he noticed a significant demand for his pinafores.

“I needed to satisfy that demand, so now I sell pinafores, my signature prop.

“Even when people run into me in person, they shout ‘Nanku lobhuti wamaphinifa’ [Here is the man who wears pinafores].

“It started out as a character but then it developed into a brand.” 

Tshingana’s TikTok stardom was born out of a simple desire to get his friend off his back.

His pinafores come from a supplier but are altered to suit his brand. 

“My friend had been asking me to post my videos on TikTok — and then they blew up.

“I had no game plan, it was just a matter of doing it because she was so persistent.

“I can say now that it was the best decision of my life, and I am glad to have friends who see your potential and don’t stop annoying you until you realise your own potential.” 

Tshingana said entrepreneurship ran in his family.

“I was brought up by my aunt who used to sell snacks and ice when we were young.

“That influenced me because not long after, I started buying chips for 50c ekasi and selling them for R1 at school.

“The school was already selling them but the gap I saw was that people were lazy to go to the tuck shop, so I used to go to them.

“It got to a point where my mom didn’t even have to bother giving me lunch money, in fact I was the one who used to come home from school with money to give her.

“Once she asked me if I wasn’t selling drugs cause the business was doing a little too well.” 

Tshingana said his TikTok look was inspired by domestic workers, taxi drivers and people who were often uncelebrated. 

“My love for amaphinifa is actually inspired by the uniform housekeepers wear.

“That uniform is such an iconic thing because it reminds me of the women who sacrifice so much and the challenges they go through in silence, all in the name of ensuring someone else’s family has a better life.” 

He said domestic workers needed to be appreciated more.

“I have always felt they are not represented enough on social media because everyone wants the glamorous life but nobody talks about the sacrifices made to get to that glamorous life.

“So I started wearing them as a symbol of representation.”

After realising pinafores were an “in-thing”, Tshingana seized the opportunity to sell them. 

“I have noted that the uniform has now evolved, becoming wearable at malls, oomakoti are wearing them at home, they have become fashionable and very versatile. And I am here for it.” 

Even though his online shopping store has already been set up, it will be officially opened on May 6. 

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