Swaziland:Trendy fashion for the disabled and for plus-sized ladies

Matsapha, 16 April: Nomcebo Dlamini dresses plus-sized women for a living. She aspires to own a business that will specialise in dressing plus-sized people, especially women as well as disabled people.

Dlamini said she saw the gap in the market after observing that most clothing (retail) shops chose their ranges and focused on normal and lean women. As a plus-sized woman who is also disabled, she knows of the huddles and challenges plus-sized women face when it comes to dressing themselves.

“My dream is to dress people like me so they can be comfortable in their bodies and have the confidence to lift their heads high. Looking good is feeling good and as a plus-sized woman who is also disabled, I know what would make another woman like me feel good and also look comfortable in,” she said.

She also sews school uniforms and choir uniforms for churches, depending on her orders. She does not have an assistant yet as the company is not yet registered and is at infancy stage, with not many orders to work on.

“I just want to show the world that despite my size and my disability, I can make something for myself using my hands. Sewing is something that I like and making a living out of it is my dream,” said Dlamini.

Her wish is to have her company registered and fully operational soon, and she hopes to eventually have a sewing school where she can empower and train people like her to sew.

Dlamini studied psycho-social support and also did a two-year course in dressmaking.

This article is part of the GL News Service special coverage of the SADC Gender Protocol Summits underway across the region, offering fresh views on everyday news.