Meet Tenele Zwane. Fashion designer, crochet master and founder of Subtle-T Designs. A clothing brand that uses the craft technique of crochet to create bold, vibrant, quality resort wear.  

Tenele studied fashion design at the Tshwane University of Technology, where she quickly fell in love with crochet in her first year. After learning stitch patterns on YouTube, Tenele started making and selling her own collection of handmade bags to family members. Throughout her studies Tenele expanded her crochet-making skills to include clothes and other accessories, completing her third year with a final collection she showcased at Africa Fashion International.

For her designs, Tenele draws inspiration from the richness of the African landscape. Creating a space for her to get in touch with her cultural identity and using the opportunity to showcase the diversity of African fashion. Today, Tenele runs a people-centred business with a strong emphasis on ethically and sustainably produced pieces.

As she reflects on her mentorship experience with the Woolies Youth Makers Programme thus far, Tenele shares she has gained so much insight into what it takes to prepare her business for retail. As a creative, the process has allowed her to learn more technical business skills like strategic planning to grow and market Subtle-T Designs. Above all, Tenele says the programme has given her the space to be confident in vocalising the vision for her business.

In the future, Tenele sees herself operating a homegrown manufacturing space producing goods for large retailers. Moreover, she hopes to see Subtle-T Design make its debut on the runway, both locally and internationally. Tenele would also like to run workshops where she teaches young people crochet skills so they can produce and sell for themselves like she did.