“Prowess and Precision in every stitch!”

IMAGE: Crocheted summer two-piece set made by Secilia Mbute Iita.

Crochets by Cici is a startup founded by Secilia Mbute Iita, a 22 year old who was born in Namibia Windhoek, raised in a small town called Mariental where she finished her secondary school. Secilia is a BAEN (Bachelor of English) student at NUST (University of Science and Technology) and doing her final year.

So tell us about your work – how did it all started? “I have always been good with my hands and I am naturally creative. Growing up I always wanted to be a fashion designer for I use to make clothes for my dolls. I always knitted and crocheted but never thought I could make money out of it until I came across Kala Crochets. She inspired me. A mutual friend posted her work and I decided to buy something from her and I was keen to learn more. But since she was busy with exams at the time and therefore couldn’t give me classes I shifted to YouTube tutorials which brought me where I am today”.

So how is business since you commenced selling your products and any challenges? “Crocheting business is great but comes with lots of challenges, it requires patience and creativity. Being a student and having to run a business at the same time is the most challenging because one needs to balance, the two. At times I have to put a pause on the orders to focus on my school work and clients at times just don’t understand. Having to come up with new collections also requires one to pause on orders. Another challenge is when a client doesn’t fit in an outfit they have ordered, then it means I have to redo it – which is causing a delay in finishing other orders on time”.

PRICES differ due to size and design.

What keeps you focused and going? “What keeps me going is having people finding my work unique and very creative. My mom is very supportive, she buys my yarn, siblings and clients share my work. What pushes me the most is making an outfit for someone and making them look stunning, the “I have created that” is the most amazing feeling one can ever feel. Putting a smile on a clients face is honestly very pleasing. Positive comments and feedback about my work also keeps me moving”.

How was business during lockdown? “Business during the pandemic was amazing. The lockdown period gave me an opportunity to create more goods. I worked with photographers such as cleopas_the_photographer and influencers such as @charisma_shekupe and more. That period was the growth period for my business”.

Instagram: @crochets_by_cici

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