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Nqobile Bhebhe, Senior Business Reporter

WHILE studying Fine Arts and Designing at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo, she thought she would stay long in the profession but the unthinkable happened. She quit the teaching profession that she loved so much to start a business.

Starting with one domestic machine she now has 10 and employs seven people. And 20 years on, Lydia Chagonda, the owner of Ethink Collections, situated along Joshua Mqabuko Street in Bulawayo, has never regretted her bold decision to venture into business.

She gravitated to the tourism sector. She produces various modern batik styles of dresses that include bright colours and new types of patterns for both women and men.

Recently, as part of Women in Tourism Zimbabwe, she exhibited at the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Expo and got valuable business contacts.

“I trained as a teacher at Hillside Teachers’ College and specialised in Fine Arts and Designing,” said the dreadlocked Chagonda with a bit of shyness on her face.

“I gained valuable knowledge on tie and dyed textiles and batik and that is why most of my items are inclined to that. After training I taught briefly in Bulawayo and Harare. During the night I was dying fabrics and selling them to my colleagues at school. I managed to sustain myself with the extra income.”

However, there came a phase when life as a teacher was not stable, at least for her, she said.
“One day at school, someone asked who was going to make clothes for us and without hesitation, I decided to get a tailor to assist me. I was good at designing but had no time for tailoring due to school commitments.

“I secured a short-term loan from a financial institution and then bought a domestic machine. Later on, I realised I could make a living from sewing so I quit teaching,” she said as she burst into laughter.

“I am happy to say I have been at this shop for 20 years. There have been ups and downs but I am still holding on.”
The disruptive Covid-19 pandemic could have been a perfect compelling reason for Chagonda to close shop and probably return to the classroom. That act would have been a betrayal to her legion of clients scattered all over the world.

“I say to myself, what would happen to my clients when I quit?” she said. “They give me the motivation to continue.”

The shop which is ever-buzzing with clients from different geographical locations is, for Chagonda, an enduring testament of bravery, the fruits of making unpopular decisions and attachment to her clients.

During two separate interviews, this publication encountered two women from the diaspora community (United Kingdom) and the other from Beitbridge collecting their orders.

“The support from the Bulawayo community has been tremendous over the years. I am originally from Harare and there were times that people would advise me to go back to Harare and continue with my business from there.

“But I now belong to Bulawayo and there are many people who have known and done business with me for the past 20 years and they keep coming back. I don’t want to disappoint them and I cannot overemphasise the support I get from the Bulawayo community.

“There are moments I feel, business wise the conditions are tough and I should quit, but again I say to myself, what would happen to my clients when I quit? What will they say about me?”

Through social media platforms, she manages to keep in touch and entice new diaspora community clients.
To her that is an advantage as having many branches might affect the financial side of business mostly through multiple rentals. Her client base is well spread and includes the United Kingdom, France, Norway, New Zealand and Australia.

“There is online selling now which at times is more effective than having many branches. I have a team which helps with advertising on social media. I have been with my team for many years, some 15. We work as a family. Some now have families of their own. We are now on tik tok and we get good business from the diaspora community.

However, to tap into the tourism market which is on the recovery path, she plans to open a shop in Victoria Falls.
With 20 years of experience, Chagonda says she has offers from women’s groups to teach tie and dying and pass on her entrepreneurial skills.

Women need to be equipped with entrepreneurship skills to sustain themselves. I work with Women in Tourism Zimbabwe. As a single parent I have managed through the proceeds of this business to educate my children up to university level.”

She quashed the notion that the fashion industry is for women who are not academically gifted.
“In this industry, as long as you are producing a product and focused you won’t go wrong,” she said.