Meet your favourite neighbourhood designer! From weddings to matric dances, Rose creates one-of-a-kind pieces that will make you feel like a queen!
Rose Ngalo, the girl from Zastron, a small town in the Free State, moved to Ballito 17 years ago. She started working as a domestic worker and later became a small business owner. Rose has loved sewing since she was a young girl. Although she never attended sewing school, she learned from her mother by watching her sew as a seven-year-old. She specialises in a variety of garments, including wedding and matric dance dresses, as well as alterations and replicating garments for clients.
One of the most challenging aspects of her job is creating a garment from a picture by making her own pattern. This demands a lot of her time, and she generally works on these projects during quieter periods, as she needs to focus before cutting the fabric. Since she doesn’t purchase the fabric personally, it can be a challenge to explain what fabric her client needs to buy, hoping it will be the correct one. However, the finished product always melts her heart.
Dresses, Dances & Dreams Come True
Rose’s inspiration comes from her clients, who bring diverse requests that inspire her to create original and unique pieces. When she sees the final product and the look of satisfaction on their face, it makes her extremely happy. “I love what I do,” she says. “It’s not all about money; I’m always happy to give my clients my time, and I enjoy talking to them too.” Building a relationship with her clients is special to her, as it allows her to add a personal touch to their garments.
Although some clients can be more challenging than others, Rose ensures that her approach to work remains consistent. She schedules appointments only on Tuesdays and Thursdays for fittings and alterations, while Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are dedicated to creating her pieces. Her relationship with her clients is vital to her business, and as a perfectionist, she won’t let a client take a finished garment home unless she’s entirely satisfied with the fit.
The Ballito community has been incredibly supportive, and Rose appreciates each and every one of her supporters. Despite facing challenges in her journey, she’s learned to remain calm and respect her clients’ needs. Her clients keep her on trend with the fashion industry, and she loves the challenge of trying new techniques when creating unique pieces.
Building a relationship with my clients is special to me, as it allows me to add a personal touch to their garments.
One of the highlights of her career was participating in the Umhlali Primary School fashion show last year, where she created over 35 dresses for the Grade 7 farewell. This year is particularly special, as she’ll be making her daughter Boniwe’s matric dance dress. Rose is also planning to launch a mobile service to cater to clients who may be unable to visit her studio, such as senior citizens. There’s even a possibility of a fashion show in the pipeline!
Rose feels blessed to have wonderful people in her life who support and encourage her in her business. She also has a fantastic team that assists her behind the scenes, making her work worthwhile.
