A fashion designer and stylist from Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal believes heritage is at the heart of who South Africans are and encourages citizens to embrace, preserve and proudly share their culture, traditions, craftsmanship and stories with the world.
Kwenzi Nkomo, founder and director of Indoni Fashion House, is passionate about using fashion as a tool for creativity, self-expression and empowerment.
Indoni Fashion House recently finished in first place at the VII International ATLAS BAYRAM Festival in Margilan, Uzbekistan.
The event featured international conferences on sustainable textile practices, eco-friendly production methods, natural dyes, live masterclasses, handicraft exhibitions, and ethno-design fashion shows.
“At Indoni Fashion House, we use fashion as a way of celebrating our African identity and showcasing the beauty of our heritage through contemporary design. The name Indoni speaks to beauty, culture and the richness of African heritage, which are central to our creative expression,” she said.
Her message aligns with this year’s Heritage Month theme, Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.
The theme highlights living heritage as a dynamic expression of identity, memory and belonging through language, music, dance, rituals, oral traditions, indigenous knowledge, craftsmanship, beliefs and customs.
Although she never imagined fashion would become her career, it became her escape and safe space during difficult periods of her childhood.
“Fashion has healed me in ways words can hardly capture. Today, it is not only my profession but my story and a way of inspiring others,” said Nkomo, who holds a Diploma in Fashion Design and Garment Construction from The Chenille Academy of Fashion.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Indoni Fashion House received funding support from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which helped the business navigate the challenges brought about by the pandemic.
The brand made its fashion-show debut at the Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) in 2014 and continues to showcase its designs there. The event forms part of the broader eThekwini Municipality Fashion Development Programme, which aims to develop the fashion sector as a driver of economic growth and job creation.
The brand has also showcased its designs nationally and internationally, including at Pure London in 2018 and 2019, Ethiopian Fashion Week in 2019, Côte d’Ivoire in 2022, African Fashion International’s Joburg Fashion Week in 2022 and 2023, and the CANEX Expo in Singapore during Taste of South Africa in 2023.
Among its accolades are the DFF Best Ladies Wear Designer Award from 2019 to 2022, the DFF Fashion Business of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023, and the DFF Designer of the Year Award in 2022 and 2023.
“These milestones represent much more than business achievements to me. As a woman entrepreneur, they are a reminder that resilience, consistency and courage can turn a difficult beginning into something meaningful and impactful,” she said. – www.vukuzenzele.gov.za
