Meet Nompumelelo Nhlapo. The visionary behind Gadat, a luxury fashion house based in Johannesburg. A brand founded out of Nompumelelo’s desire to see herself as a young black woman, and people who look like her, as leaders in the fashion design industry.

Nompumelelo can trace her love of fashion as far back as five years old, when her stepfather brought her paper dolls, sparking a love of design. To realise her dream of becoming a fashion designer, Nompumelelo started by taking a garment construction course, eventually building a network of creatives through working on various photoshoot sets. Today, Nompumelelo has built a fashion brand rooted in intentionality, sustainability and one-of-a-kind pieces. Each garment is crafted strictly with the purpose of being a long-lasting investment.

Gadat celebrates community, empowerment, and art. Nompumelelo credits her very own community, both at home and the one she found along her journey of building her business, for supporting her in making her dream a reality.

Reflecting on her mentorship experience thus far, Nompumelelo shares it has been instrumental in helping her navigate the complexities of running a business. She explains the process has aided her understanding of how to present a cohesive collection that resonates with the needs of her customers. Most importantly, Nompumelelo says, she has learned the intricacies of project management from conception to execution, allowing her to plan for the important finer details.