JHB North May 2021

FASHION FIRST FIRST
FASHION Trendsetter and designer. Entrepreneur and traveller. And a loving mother.
These are the many hats of Sandi Mazibuko.
Sandi Mazibuko is a fashion force. Her second store,
House of Fabrosanz, recently opened at the Mall of Africa,
boasting all the current custom Fabrosanz designs, as well
as an FRS menswear collection.
Fabrosanz is a leading African brand that showcases the
diversity of African cultures with quality, ready-to-wear
clothing that is luxurious and authentic. Sandi, the fashion
designer and entrepreneur behind the brand, shows no
sign of slowing down.
So where did all of this inspiration come from? ‘I grew
up surrounded by women who adored fashion with the
fashion conversation flowing from everyone, especially
my aunt who made all her event outfits,’
Sandi says.
‘She would create multiple versions
of traditional garments to wear at
local events and never wanted
to look like anyone else who
was attending. Little did I
know how much she would
influence my journey later
in life.’
Her inspiration doesn’t
stop there. ‘I am Zulu, so
I wanted to create prints
that showcase my culture
while still being fashionable.
‘I have been using African
print for years now and
something was missing as I
didn't know the story of the
prints I was using. I felt like that
needed to change so I started
creating prints inspired by culture, a print
that South Africans can relate to and are able
to take to the world.’
This ethos resonates with her customers – the support
for the new store has been overwhelming. ‘It’s such a
beautiful time that we live in, to see people loving and
proud to wear local brands.’
She makes it look easy but building up her brand has taken
a lot of hard work, and it even started out as a side hustle.
‘I started [this business] while I was working full time as an
executive assistant. The business started from my spare
Sandi’s
seasonal styling tips
Sport-lux/athleisure: This trend is here
to stay and it’s so easy to pull off in winter.
You can dress it up too. You don’t have to wear
tracksuits with just sneakers alone. Add a blouse
under your sweater and a blazer, then dress it up
with block heels for comfort.
Layering: Don’t put all your summer clothes away.
Instead, try to style them with your winter jackets by
layering. Winter doesn’t have to be dull.
Blazers: Staple print blazers are a must-have
for all seasons.
Bold print scarves and ponchos: Go for a
solid colour and make a statement or opt
for a bold print scarf and poncho. Add
a fedora hat and you’re good
to go!
room. I hired a seamstress to help me with orders while I was
at work. She would come in the morning and I would brief
her before going to work. Then I would use my lunchtime
and weekends to source fabrics and meet with clients.’
These foundations laid the framework for Sandi’s
entrepreneurial prowess. ‘I am very hands-on in my business.
You can put me in any department and I would be able to
do the job. I believe in doing something that I'm passionate
about so I can give it my all.’
Covid-19 naturally impacted her business. ‘The beginning
of lockdown was tough as we couldn't work much and I
had to let go of a few staff members. Thanks to our loyal
customers, business started picking up again from
Level 3. The team was able to come back to
work and the business has grown even
more as more people started to shop
online and we even had the demand
to open a Johannesburg store.’
Working this hard could mean
burnout, so Sandi is cautious in
preventing it. ‘I love my me time,
even if it’s just slowing down
and working from home. I also
meditate in the mornings, and
work out as well.’
And, of course, there’s her
love of travel. ‘Every time I feel
overwhelmed with work, I travel
just to clear my head and refocus.
I would like to visit more African
countries with Senegal and Ghana
being at the top of the list.’
She also tries to prioritise family time
but is still realistic about the demands of
entrepreneurship. ‘I’m not sure I have mastered [a worklife
balance] as my work is too demanding. Travelling helps. I
plan trips with family, my partner and sometimes with friends
to reconnect and catch up but I do spend most of my time
working. Hard work and prayer have helped me to get where
I am today, so I hope my children learn from that. They must
never feel entitled to anything they didn’t work for.’
Details: To see the stylish fruits of Sandi’s hard work, head to
houseoffabrosanz.com to update your wardrobe or follow Sandi
on Instagram: @sandimazibuko
08 Get It Magazine May 21