For 22-year-old fashion designer Shelly Makota, fashion is about much more than creating clothes — it is about solving problems, expressing ideas and helping people feel confident in their own skin.
Makota, who is currently studying for a degree in Clothing, Fashion and Design at Chinhoyi University of Technology, believes her contribution to the industry can help make fashion more sustainable, inclusive and meaningful.
Her passion for creativity and self-expression inspired her to pursue fashion as a career.
Her journey began in 2016 at Chibi High School, where she studied Fashion and Fabrics, before advancing to Ndarama High School for A-Level studies in Textile Technology and Design. She enrolled at Chinhoyi University in 2022.
“I decided to become a fashion designer because I am passionate about creativity, self-expression and creating designs that positively impact how people feel. Fashion combines my love for art and problem-solving,” she said.
Makota aims to create collections that are personal, practical and accessible rather than focusing solely on high-end runway fashion.
“I want to design collections that people can relate to and even recreate. By using simple shapes, local fabrics and everyday themes, my work will show that design is not limited — it starts with ideas that anyone can have,” she said.
To her, fashion design is also a platform for storytelling.
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“Designing gives my ideas a voice. It is not just about making clothes; it is about turning thoughts, feelings and culture into something people can see and wear while helping them feel confident,” she said.
Makota noted that one of the biggest misconceptions about her profession is that many people confuse fashion designers with tailors.
“People often ask if I can sew. That made me realise there is a lack of understanding about the fashion design industry and the need to educate people more about what fashion design really involves,” she said.
She credits her mother as her greatest inspiration.
“My mom taught me that creativity is about solving problems with what you have. Watching her make something from nothing inspired me to approach fashion the same way — with patience, purpose and attention to detail,” she said.
Looking ahead, Makota hopes to establish her own fashion brand within the next five years and leave a lasting mark on the industry through designs that inspire and empower.
