Tendai Marowa is a fashion creative, former Miss Cosmos 2012 -2013, former national mentor for Miss Cosmos South Africa and founder of The Legacy Of True Beauty. Born in Zimbabwe but now based in South Africa, Tendai is also officially Ms Cosmos Zimbabwe 2022-2023 as well as the brand ambassador for End Girl Hate: Bringing Women Together.
Tell us about End Girl Hate.
End Girl Hate was born out of the need to simply encourage women and girls to start supporting one another. The movement spread so fast within two years that we’ve had to extend our branches globally beyond the borders of just South Africa, welcoming End Girl Hate Botswana and End Girl Hate Canada.
I believe in opening space for other women to gain experience and find themselves as the beauty pageant industry in my country has been neglected, and it’s time we rise up and embrace the Zimbabwean beauty and brains.
What do you love most about the textile and clothing industry?
Firstly, it’s my passion that I discovered in Australia while working for Nine West as a sales associate, which was my first job. That’s when I knew this was it and never looked back. I love being surrounded with inspiration and creatives, being able to merge my fashion experience, leadership education and creative flare with other luxury clothing brands.
Tell us about The Legacy of True Beauty.
The Legacy of True Beauty was created to celebrate and promote culturally diverse and influential people such as public figures and everyday heroes. It aims to inspire and impact audiences. Collaborations are important – also working with young creatives to express their creativity and human empowerment.
After 14 years in the industry and having your own brand, what would you say are the main pointers in business?
After 14 years of experience I’m still learning, and this new norm has taught us not to be narrow-minded, and collaboration is key.
Sustainable fashion is the way forward. It’s a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice. It creates fashion in a way which is most considerate of humanity and the environment, reducing the environmental impact wherever possible. Sustainable fashion concerns more than just addressing fashion textiles or products.
So if you want to start your own brand, key elements are know your way, do research about the industry, gain inspiration. What makes you unique? Who’s your target audience? And most importantly, your financial status is important before you start your brand. The reason why most designers fail at sustaining their brand is they rush into it with no research and understanding can you financially sustain yourself even when you’re challenged with sales? It’s not about making garments and showcasing at Fashion Week. There’s so much more behind the fashion industry. Glitz and glam is just a fraction of it.
What is your greatest motivation when it comes to your job?
My greatest motivation is my why.
What advice do you have for other women who want to venture in your line of business?
Be sure you are passionate and hungry for it. You’re doing it for you, and you know your why. Just because you like fashion or clothes doesn’t mean you are supposed to be in the industry. You have to have it in you: a skill set, creativity, passion and driven gift. For example, there are so many claimed designers who design a few looks, but along the way, they end up copying. Or stylists that have not lasted within the industry because they know how to put clothes together but aren’t passionate enough about the industry.
Credits:
MUA: Tamaryn Leigh Forbes
Photography: Mklens Photography
Clothing Brand: Slay Sisters Boutique & kluk Cgdt
Social Media:
Instagram: @MarowaTendai and @thelegacyoftruebeauty_
Facebook: Tendai To Marowa and The Legacy Of True Beauty
