After achieving notable career success at an early age, several women have emerged as role models for the next generation of female professionals. Khuthadzo Sinugo, an emerging fashion designer and entrepreneur from South Africa, is one of these career role models. Khuthadzo has completed many professional courses and holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Psychology and Industrial Psychology.
(By: Naeem UI Hassan)
Khuthadzo never intended to become a fashion designer. When she was younger, she dreamed of being a writer because she had always loved literature. She still does. Her journey to becoming a self-taught fashion designer and entrepreneur is really motivating.
Necessity is the mother of invention. Khuthadzo is a great example of this. Since she had a hard time finding a job after graduation in 2022, she began teaching herself to sew and shared her creations on social media. She had no intention of turning it into a business. But the more she shared her ideas online, the more people became aware of them and began ordering her creations. This is when she realized she could turn this into a business. She established her brand, SMR by Khuthie, in August 2022 after registering as a business. Her specialty is personalized jewelry and clothing. Story Meets Reality is what SMR stands for. The popularity of this brand is growing organically.
Khuthadzo’s story sets her apart from others in her industry. When she finished university in 2022 and was job hunting, she started teaching herself fashion and jewelry design. She worked day and night to improve her skills and promote her brand on social media. Success comes to those who embrace the challenge. She worked very hard and overcame many challenges to establish and promote her brand. SMR by Khuthie is now widely recognized.
Service to humanity is service to God. Khuthadzo’s passion for helping others thrive in their careers is really inspiring. She has inspired several people to launch their careers as designers and artists using social media.
Khuthadzo’s accomplishments are too much to list here. Being a first-generation graduate and self-taught fashion designer, she distinguishes herself from others in her industry.
Because they demonstrate that success is attainable, same-gender role models are particularly beneficial to women, and same-gender mentors can provide a basis for comprehending the unique challenges or experiences of mentees. The following career success tips, offered by entrepreneurial role model Khuthadzo, might assist the next generation of female entrepreneurs in succeeding in their ventures:
For young female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, I understand that
Sometimes you are in situations where you are unable to get formal education to sharpen or develop your skills and might also not be able to buy the tools needed to start or expand your business. I was there too. I had zero skills and no money to get started. My biggest motivation is that it is possible to learn the skills without formal education. We live at a time when we have so many resources at the tips of our hands due to easy access to the internet. In my early days as a fashion designer, I made use of platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest to learn to develop my skills. Although I still have room to learn, I can confidently say I am a good fashion designer. I have good understanding of my work and the materials I use. I started with the little resources I had at the time and God has blessed me with more. Additionally, share your experiences on social media; this not only motivates others, but it gives you exposure and one day you will be able to look back and see how far you have come.