Eastern Cape-based designer Nobuzwe Mabona is on a mission to preserve culture and tradition through innovative digital textile design.
Born in Zwelitsha, the 52-year-old former radio presenter has established a digital textile design printing company in her hometown, and is dedicated to sharing her unique skills with local youth.
The owner of Buzwe Bethu Textile Designs said the aim was to create a space for creatives to generate an income for themselves while preserving their heritage for the next generation.
“The company was incepted in 2018 after the department of economic affairs supported my traditional attire business.
“We want to step up the ladder in the textile industry by having prints that we develop for cultural expression.”
The former radio presenter said she hung up her mic to focus on her vision to express art and heritage through textiles.
“I was once a radio presenter, and for the longest time my space was occupied by the communications industry.
“In 2010, that’s when I saw I was missing the ‘art-ability’ of expressing myself because I found myself speaking too much English.
“So I started doing T-shirts for the World Cup and it was merely to express the greeting lingo that cultivates cultures.
“An urge to understand more about culture diverted me into textiles, it was no longer about the T-shirt but textile clothing.
“From imibhaco [traditional Xhosa attire worn by women], I started designing dresses and then I reached a point where I wanted to have an understanding of textiles as a whole.”
Mabona said she was also moved to try help unemployed young graduates.
“I approached Lovedale TVET College to take in young artists who want work experience to share the knowledge that I have gained in my journey,” she said.
She hoped this could lead to the graduates being able to establish their own businesses.
“To maximise their income stream they can also use software to have print designs in the commercial space.
“In 2023, we became an accredited institution.
“Our accreditation is in handcrafted footwear and sewing as a new venture creation.
“This allowed us to have programmes from the municipality, social development and agencies to help with unemployment in the Eastern Cape so we can train people to get certificates and incubate them as start-up businesses.”
She said her vision was also driven by seeing that the younger generation were losing touch with their culture.
“The new dawn generation don’t know their roots and where they come from.
“I felt our own culture is getting lost in translation for the future.
“Therefore I must make it reputable that our culture is an embracive culture that we can wear daily.”
As part of celebrating heritage day, Buzwe Bethu Textile Designs will welcome aspiring creatives who hope to make a name for themselves in the industry on Friday.
“It’s a celebration of young creatives who are designers and haven’t got recognition as designers,” Mabona said.
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