Bulls n Bears Entrepreneurship Zone :: Mellisa Mazingi - The startup story of a Zimbabwean online fashion retailer with a vision to grow the country’s fashion sector

[Bulls n Bears]

 <http://www.nedbank.co.zw/> 

 


The African fashion industry is definitely on the move, and in Zimbabwe one
woman fashion retail-preneur is realising her vision to put the country’s
fashion designers on the map, and create an innovative online retail fashion
outlet to showcase their work. Mellisa Mazingi and her company zedlabel, is
an African fashion-preneur with a big vision and big ideas - a name to watch
on the continent. 


LoA spoke to Mellisa this month to find out more about this great fashion
concept and her vision to promote Zimbabwean designers

Tell us a little about your company and what it does?

 <http://www.zedlabel.com/> zedlabel is an online store for Zimbabwean
fashion designers. We bridge the gap between the fashion-loving customer who
wants unique, quality and affordable fashion and the clothing, accessory and
beauty brand designers of Zimbabwe. Our objective is to create growth in the
Zimbabwean fashion sector.

In addition to selling local fashion brands, we provide loan funding to
talented Zimbabwean fashion designers, and facilitate training and mentoring
programmes for local designers too. It's all about growing the industry,
which in turn feeds growth for the business.

 




 


"zedlabel is an evolving afro-style destination, which helps designers grow
their businesses and puts Zimbabwean fashion on the map."



What inspired you to start your company?

I identified the need for a ready-to-wear platform for Zimbabwean fashion
designers while writing for my Zimbabwean fashion blog, Zim Fashionista, and
running my fashion events and PR company. I realised that there was an
incredible amount of design talent in Zimbabwe, but that for the designers'
brands to grow they needed to move into ready-to-wear and make their fashion
more accessible to the market. zedlabel does that with low cost to the
designers, but reaches a wider audience.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

We sell unique, quality clothing and accessories by Zimbabwean designers
and stock some excellent local beauty brands too. zedlabel is an evolving
afro-style destination, which helps designers grow their businesses and puts
Zimbabwean fashion on the map.

 

 


 


"When the business is yours and you're making it grow, you're always moving
- and sometimes it feels like you're running in a hamster wheel! But
occasionally I look up and see how far the company has gone and it inspires
me to keep moving."


Tell us a little about your team

zedlabel employs two permanent staff, as well as 1-2 interns each year. Our
team is wholly comprised of women as I believe in female empowerment and
have a platform to carry out my small part. It's a dynamic work environment
because as with every start-up there's always a thousand things to do at any
one point in time, but that allows for so much learning and personal
development too.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an
entrepreneurial background?

I studied accounting and auditing, and worked at an international
accounting firm in Harare for 3 years. When I began working on my events
business full-time in 2011, I did a lot of different things - from weddings
to corporate events to children's parties! I found my niche in fashion
around the same time that I started my fashion blog in July of that year,
and my events company became a fashion events and PR company. I expanded the
business to include it's 3rd wing, zedlabel, in 2014 and haven't looked
back. I've found the perfect way to blend my love of fashion and all things
Zimbabwean with my financial background, helping local fashion brands and
designers grow their creativity into sustainable business.

 




 


"I plan to grow zedlabel into a benchmark for African fashion retail
internationally, making Zimbabwe a leader in fashion from the continent by
taking its fashion worldwide."


 




What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

I plan to grow zedlabel into a benchmark for African fashion retail
internationally, making Zimbabwe a leader in fashion from the continent by
taking its fashion worldwide. This goes hand-in-hand with growing the Zim
Fashionista blog and expanding my fashion events and PR business.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

Getting the job done. When the business is yours and you're making it grow,
you're always moving - and sometimes it feels like you're running in a
hamster wheel! But occasionally I look up and see how far the company has
gone and it inspires me to keep moving. I think we're making a difference in
the local fashion sector, and that's exciting to see.

 


#EntrepreneurAdvice "Build a support network so you can seek advice when
needed"


- Mellisa Mazingi founder @zedlabel


 <http://ctt.ec/m5d1p> 

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to
start-up?

Build a support network so you can seek advice when needed, and be
meticulous about planning and execution. But most importantly, enjoy the
journey.-- lionessesofafrica.com 



Mellisa Mazinga, founder of zedlabel (Zimbabwe)

 

Invest Wisely!

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