By Mzukona Mantshontsho
Thobekile Mkhize, founder and CEO of Mabotho Designs has created a cosmetics and make-up bag line looking at collaborations with lifestyle accessories’ brands to partner with.
Born in Amanzimtoti, eMthwalume Mission in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, she came to Johannesburg in 2008 for a marketing assistant position at the Joshua Doore Group. With an art background in high school, the idea of a handbag manufacturing business came naturally and to honour my father turned businessman, who unfortunately passed on in 1999, was my inspiration as the only child.
The name Mabotho comes from my dad’s nickname ‘Mabo’ from his name S’bongiseni and ‘tho’ from Thobekile. I’ve been running Mabotho Designs; a company registered mid 2014 and started production early this year to provide durable unique bags, bedding accessories and cushions that speak to the young vibrant and versatile individual who wants to be stylish, classy and unique without making a serious dent in their budget.
Brought up in a well-balanced home with strong academic and religious values, has been a blessing for me when I’m facing challenges of starting and running a successful business. With no formal business training, I am learning everyday from the mentors I surround myself with – surround yourself with people who will share your vision.
As a brand we are evidence that style doesn’t have to be costly. The products are custom made from the development phase and they factor in your age, your individuality, your culture, and your vision. We are currently producing about 200 handbags a month – women want bags with more space, stylish, easily washable, eco-friendly and priced decently enough.
We have formed partnerships with boutiques, salons and malls to display our products. In the next two years, we intend to secure relationships with bigger retailers in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
We are excited and proud of our new cosmetics and make-up bag line which we plan to take it far as we can with collaborations from bigger lifestyle and retail accessories’ brands. I am sharing this vision with my seamstresses so that we all get motivated and strive to keeping this vision and believing in it.
Thobekile’s Tips on how to Succeed:
• Understand your product and get educated on the market and competition
• Put your ideas down on paper
• Do proper planning – think things through before doing them
• Associate yourself with the right people and mentors
• Believe in your Idea
• Give it time to grow and people will believe you
