Zimkita Hene

My name is Zimkita Hene; born and raised in Cape Town. When I was a child I was one of those little girls that loved cutting her clothes coz for some reason I always though they were just not made right...you know! I used to love my mother's closet coz she had a lot of Items that i really related too and would often ask her to keep those clothes for me. Looking at her old pictures from the fifties brought a certain comfort of some sort for me as I felt there truly was a time that I could really relate to and identify myself with if that makes any sense. Growing up as a teen she'll come back from work and I would have made myself an outfit her fabrics. I used to love going out with friends coz that would give me a perfect excuse to create something amazing that would amaze them all. When I finished my Matric I knew immediately what i wanted to study...it was unquestionable! While dong my 3rd year towards my Deploma I recruited my 2 best friends and we opened our own "Fashion Studio" called "Ahluka"(which means be different in isiXhosa). It was pure joy coming back from class and just design and create clothes for people. The business grew rom just making clothes from people in the neighbourhood to being in a Boutique in Long Street Cape Town where we were actually creating clothes that people who didn't even know us loved and actually related to our sense of style. There's no grater feeling that will suppress that of a person who does not know you proudly wearing something you created!...she came to a store and hand picked an item that was just a mere idea in my head. That for me was a true validation that this was my passion; this was what i wanted to do for as long as I breath. But life happened...business proved to need more than passion to grow and reality slowing hit that bills need to be paid and I guess I gave up on the dream. I left home and headed to the "City of Gold" to find my new purpose in life; I worked for one of the biggest clothing retailers in South Africa-Edcon. I started my way from the bottom up. I joined the company as a Merchandising Clark in the Cosmetics Department. something totally different from what I had envisioned myself in. For me the job was just a means of getting an income...see the fire was still burning inside...to still make my mark in the Fashion world. I then bought myself fabrics, created a range and took my range to SABC3 to dress broadcasting presenters...they loved my work and was one of the lucky desi