By: Mpho Shelile
Maseru – Growing up as a creative child in Lesotho, Tebello Zacharia, founder of Bold Couture PTY LTD, turned her passion for design into a successful fashion brand. Her journey in the fashion industry reflects resilience, determination, and an enduring love for both fashion and business.
Reflecting on her childhood, Tebello shares how her love for design blossomed. She recalls that, unlike other children who often spent time playing together, her parents did not allow her to visit friends. To fill her time, Tebello began designing outfits for her dolls. This early exposure to self-made fashion ignited her creativity and planted the first seeds of her fashion aspirations.
Initially, Tebello’s interest in business led her to enroll in Accounting at the National University of Lesotho (NUL). She was drawn to the field because of her love for business, but during this time, she discovered a growing interest in crafting and fashion. She began experimenting with crocheting and knitting, which inspired her to pursue a path in fashion more seriously. Recognizing that her passion lay in design rather than accounting, she made the bold decision to shift her academic focus.
This decision led her to Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, where she pursued studies in fashion and design. It was here that she conceptualized the name for her brand, Bold Couture, a name that reflects her commitment to creating bold and unique fashion statements.
Launching a business from scratch, especially in fashion, presented significant challenges. Tebello faced the hurdle of limited financial resources and, as a young entrepreneur, struggled to gain customer trust. Without a steady Income, she relied on her monthly allowance to fund her business, a move she describes as both challenging and rewarding. Despite the struggle, Tebello’s determination and discipline in managing her finances allowed her to take incremental steps in growing Bold Couture.
Bold Couture is a fashion brand that creates stylish and functional accessories and clothing for women, with a focus on high-quality scrunches, bonnets, and versatile clothing pieces. Each item is thoughtfully designed to blend elegance and comfort, using carefully selected materials that are gentle on the hair and skin.
Bold Couture’s scrunches add a touch of sophistication to any hairstyle, while the bonnets offer protective styling solutions for hair care. Their clothing line includes a range of trendy yet timeless pieces tailored to suit a variety of tastes, ensuring every woman feels confident and chic.
One of her early achievements was being able to save enough money to purchase her own sewing machine, which became the foundation of her growing business. With this machine, Tebello could produce more pieces, increasing her production capacity and attracting more customers.
Tebello’s breakthrough moment came in 2022 when she won the BEDCO Business Plan competition, earning a substantial grant of M100,000. This funding provided her with the opportunity to scale her business significantly. She was able to upgrade from domestic sewing machines to four industrial machines, which greatly improved production efficiency. With the additional funds, Tebello hired two employees, contributing to job creation and local economic growth. She also allocated part of the grant to cover her rent and pay employee salaries for six months, stabilizing her business during a crucial growth period.
Further empowering her entrepreneurial journey was her involvement with the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). Through AWE, Tebello received comprehensive training in business management, including essential skills in bookkeeping and transaction recording. This training allowed her to establish more organized financial practices and track every aspect of her business operations. Tebello describes the impact of AWE as transformative, helping her manage her business with greater precision and professionalism.
AWE also provided Tebello with networking opportunities, connecting her with like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors. This month, she will attend a networking forum in Pretoria, hosted by AWE, where she will have the chance to meet and collaborate with entrepreneurs from various sectors. Tebello looks forward to this opportunity to expand her network and gain insights that could drive Bold Couture forward.
Tebello’s vision for Bold Couture is fueled by her ambition to redefine Lesotho’s fashion scene and establish her brand as a household name. She is driven by the goal of expanding her production line and eventually entering larger markets beyond Lesotho. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasizes the importance of persistence and resilience, encouraging other aspiring entrepreneurs to stay committed despite the obstacles.
Tebello Zacharia’s story is a testament to the power of passion, resourcefulness, and adaptability. With the support of programs like BEDCO and AWE, she has transformed Bold Couture from a childhood dream into a thriving business, inspiring young Basotho to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.