Blooming with GRACE Businesswoman, clothing designer, chat show host, friend, mother … Trudy Zulu balances life like a pro. Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY. Photographer: MBONGO KESWA 08 Get It <strong>Lowveld</strong> <strong>April</strong> <strong>2023</strong> Growing up in White River, Trudy explains that her formative years were an incredible experience, shaping her outlook on life in so many positive ways. “There were three siblings,” she recalls, “and emphasis was always placed on the importance of serving and sharing with others.” Trudy decided early on that she wanted to help improve the lives of others, especially young people. “The environment you grow up and live in is everything,” she says. “My ultimate goal was to know enough about key industries that would have a positive influence on the future. I’ve studied admin, green technology and data analytics, and I am currently doing my MBA in entrepreneurship and innovation.” Trudy has always nurtured a love of the music industry, seeing herself involved in it someday. Following her heart in that direction led to her starting up a production company with friend and business partner Triumph Lubisi. T & T Media was the fulfilment of a dream, creating uplifting, inspiring local content to which people could relate. Another one of Trudy’s passions was clothing. In high school, she loved being creative, and fashion was the ideal outlet. In that vein, she decided to start her own fashion brand, Zapporrah, which offers high-end designs at an affordable price. “What inspired me to start the brand was the problem I found I had finding clothing that fit my body as a young, tall African woman with curves and a particular waist,” Trudy explains. “I wanted to create a clothing brand whose name spoke of the beauty of African women, which realistically catered for people like me around the world. Actually, any woman who wants to embrace the beauty of their uniqueness.” It doesn’t end there, however. Trudy’s latest and most fulfilling endeavour to date is the development of female entrepreneurs in Africa, which she does through STEM and ESD programmes, as well as speaking engagements done in conjunction with an organisation she has founded called Bloom with Grace, which focuses on empowering individuals, especially women. “I never realised this project would take up so much of my time,” she smiles. “The reality is that our country has many challenges, which actually presents a great opportunity for entrepreneurship. What’s also important to note is the high level of unemployment, especially among the youth. Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of SA’s economy, contributing to about 40% of the country’s GDP. It just makes sense that we need more entrepreneurs, which will result in more job opportunities for the unemployed. I believe it is crucial that we make sure entrepreneurs receive the tools they need in order to have a fighting chance in this very volatile economy.”
Trudy Zulu