From fabric to furniture: Sarafina Shifafure’s creative journey

Sarafina Shifafure, a Rundu-born fashion designer with more than a decade of experience, has built a reputation for blending fashion and carpentry into distinctive, creative expressions.Beyond creating clothes and furniture, she devotes her time to offering free lessons, giving aspiring designers the chance to learn and grow.“My name is Sarafina, but people call me Miss Hermes. My business is Finmax Fashion Design, a name inspired by my baby Maxine, whom I had when I was 20," she said in a recent interview.Shifafure launched her business in 2007 after making her own matric farewell dress. “That’s when I realised I was good at this,” she recalls.In 2010, after completing Grade 12, she enrolled at the College of the Arts, where she honed her skills over three years and earned a diploma."Afterwards, I got a temporary job as a teacher, which I ended up doing for six years. While I was teaching, I continued making clothes.”Overcoming initial hurdles Shifafure eventually left teaching to focus on her business full-time. Her new venture was not without challenges, especially as Shifafure lacked her own premises and renting space proved costly. “Given these challenges, many of my clients started going to new tailors, and I began to lose business because of where I lived at the time. I also didn’t have electricity.”Nonetheless, she persevered, and her loyal clients stood by her.Now, her business is thriving. “I love my business because I’m my own boss. I can work at my own pace without pressure, and I truly enjoy what I do. I love working with fabric. It gives me peace and is therapeutic," Shifafure says, adding with a smile: "Also, the money isn’t bad, especially in wedding season!” But, as with any work, there are tricky moments. “The only stress comes when you’re not able to finish a client’s work on time. But since you are your own boss, you have to work extra hard.”The demands of the jobWhen it comes to timeframes for completing a garment, Shifafure says it depends on the design.“Sometimes it takes me a day, like with dresses, because today many people want more revealing styles, which are not too hard to make.”Wedding dresses, however, are another matter. They can take anywhere from two weeks to a month, depending on the intricacy of the requirements. “Beading takes time, so you have to sit there full-time to get it done. And often, other clients come in, and I need to continue with their work too,” Shifafure explains. What’s vital, she says, is time management. “If clients need something at a specific time, I wake up early in the morning and make sure it’s done. To keep up with demand, I often work late into the night. I don’t want any client to be disappointed.”Honesty remains paramount. “If I realise I won’t be able to finish, I must be honest and tell the client. I need to keep things professional. I try to keep clients happy, and business is business.”Naturally, there are demanding clients. “You know, the client is always right! I find that letting them talk while I listen is the best way to resolve conflict, if there is any.“So far, I’ve never had a client disappointed in my work. They are always impressed.”Believe in yourself For aspiring tailors, Shifafure’s advice is not to give up. “Believe in yourself, because nobody is going to come and encourage or motivate you. There will be days without clients and days when people make negative comments, but don’t take it to heart. Just focus on what you’re doing and believe in yourself.”Also, she adds, every tailor is different. “You’ll find multi-talented tailors like myself,” Shifafure notes, pointing to the seats and sofas in her studio. “I made those with my own hands. You should focus on what you do best. For example, I’m not really interested in making mermaid dresses. It’s not that I don’t know how, but I just don’t prefer it.”Sharing expertiseShifafure is equally passionate about sharing her knowledge. “I offer classes for those who want to learn tailoring, sewing machine management, or specific skills like corset-making.“I can even teach you how to make a suit. This is my way of giving back to the community,” she says.Her dream, she added, is to use her work to support vulnerable people.Looking ahead, Shifafure also plans to expand her business to include the manufacturing of school uniforms.Lessons for life When asked about her inspiration and mentors, Shifafure points to her parents.“Sadly, my mother and father are no longer alive. But my father always taught us – we were ten girls – that we should not depend on others to do things for us. You should always wake up early, work hard, and open closed doors yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to open them for you. You should be ‘extra’. You should be a hustler.”Another lesson from her father, which guides her always: “Those three things – honesty, respect for others, and hustling – are the keys to life. Hustle like a slave, and at the end of the day, you will live like a queen.”

From fabric to furniture: Sarafina Shifafure’s creative journey

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-16

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From fabric to furniture: Sarafina Shifafure’s creative journey

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-16

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