University of Fort Hare student Pretty Mqolweni, 24, started designing evening gowns when she was a model because she could not afford to buy the dresses she wanted.
Now her designs have earned her a spot in the finals of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education competition.
The programme is intended to develop the entrepreneurial skills of students, academics and leaders.
Her business, Pretty Designs, has been selected as a finalist in the Existing Business — Social Impact category.
Mqolweni is a final-year master of science in agriculture student.
Her design and business acumen impressed the adjudicators in the internal and regional rounds of the competition.
“There’s still work I need to put in but seeing myself growing this much feels so amazing. I never thought I would go as far as dressing the next person but somehow people trust my designs with their important appearances.”
— Mqolweni
“Designing dresses is a skill I taught myself when I was a stage model.
“My imagination would run wild when I wanted a particular design to compete in” said Mqolweni, adding other fashion designer’s gowns did not fully express the style or standard she wanted due to her budget constraints.
“We come from different backgrounds and sometimes seeing yourself not properly represented on stage because you are the only one with a dress that doesn’t meet the competition standards does affect your confidence.
“My only financial injection at the time was NSFAS.
“So I decided the solution was to find ways of getting the designs I wanted but cheaper, and sewing them myself.
“I used my book allowance money to buy my first machine.”
She recalls designing and sewing her first dress.
“My family and friends couldn’t believe I was serious until they saw the potential of that first gown.”
Mqolweni applied to enter the competition in April and made it to the top two in the internal rounds.
Ten participants from four universities entered, totalling 40 contestants.
“My business was selected to be one of the five that will go to Gauteng on November 30 to compete in the finals.”
Her nomination was a dream come true, she said.
“There’s still work I need to put in but seeing myself growing this much feels so amazing.
“I never thought I would go as far as dressing the next person but somehow people trust my designs with their important appearances.”
Her biggest project was dressing 40 models for the Miss Empower Eastern Cape pageant.
“Making a standard evening gown takes me an hour-and-a-half, and for more complicated designs four to six hours max.
“There’s always a drive to do more and learn more.
“I always want to do something that will make even me stare in disbelief that this is actually my craft.
“My dream is to build a powerhouse brand that will keep young girls off the streets by grooming and enhancing their talent through pageantry and fashion.”
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