by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

We are the first, in many ways, in this entrepreneurship boom happening currently.  Most of us are first amongst our families, friends and generally in all of history.  You know what this means…it means we have to find out, teach ourselves, and excel at something we have no history of from a personal perspective. Having a parent who had previously run a business, whether it failed or succeeded, would be just bliss.  Someone to ask specific questions to; someone to check in with all the time.  

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I have always said that I am more fearful of my success than my failure.  I mean what is failure? How many rejections have you been through at this age; try and count and you will fail.  In my case, from my first attempt to touch a candle flame, or my mom refusing for me to not make it into the NETBAL EERSTE SPAN in high school, and to the tertiary Dmerits! There have been failures, but yet I am here.  So failure to me is just a T-Junction on a road - I went right but I was supposed to go left.  But…success… you see success is a new can of worms I have never experienced. It demands another me I have not met before, and definitely feels like growing a new tooth.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

The journey of building my own business empire has been many things, including amazing, challenging, surprising and painful. Luckily, God is kind enough not to allow these experiences to happen at the very same time. Instead, they are spread across time. I believe this is the 5th year this year. Halfway to a decade, imagine! I think I should one day sit down and write all the major events that have happened during the building of my business, Roka Roko, and look at them as an audience rather than as the main character involved. Maybe I might cry from the sheer multitude of what small actions eventually add up to on this entrepreneurial journey.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I have cancelled my gym membership. I can hear a wave of horror and disbelief riveting through my people. I mean how dare I in this age of green healthy bodies. What am I doing? Honestly, it feels like freedom and something I have been trying to do for a long time. I have been signed up to some or other gym for the longest time all because someone said I must be part of a gym. They are right, but I do think there are other ways of achieving fitness? Other than being committed to a contract, I have failed over and over to honour.

by Brigitte Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Would you believe I have been creating dusty pink bridesmaids dresses since the inception of  Roka Roko?  My second group of bridesmaids in 2014 was a chiffon and lace dusty pink dress design; and that experience was terrible.  Well, not because of the colour, but you can imagine I have had a few scary attachments to this colour.  I have had a love hate relationship with the colour dusty pink for a while now.  I think it is because as a creative you come to accept that things change and you expect the world to move with you…well no!

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

In the 4 years of this business, I have had ‘gazillions’ of collaboration offers and maybe 1 of them actually happens, maybe!  I don’t know if it worked or not.  Collaborations are agreed to and pushed forward because, well in life and in business we need each other. I am yet to be part of a real collaboration and see it through. There are many reasons why I haven’t been in one, some are real and others probably imagined! Have I lost out? Probably! Who knows what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose. I have compiled a list of reasons I still haven’t done a collaboration; maybe some ring true for you as well?

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

In the four and a half years I have been running Roka Roko I have been rejected just about a million times.  Each time there was a reason why of course. A reason I couldn’t understand but reviewed deeply to better myself.  At each of these times when I tried again and again after each rejection, I would feel like I am insane really. Why am I trying again? There is a saying that goes, doing the same thing expecting different results is stupidity; and some times I have felt stupid.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I don’t work on Sundays. No wait, I don’t do anything on Sundays! And this seems to boggle a lot of minds. People have numerous reasons why I should see them on Sunday. It’s fascinating. I have thus far taught my body to refuse all when I wake, I can literally spend the entire day (10 hours) in bed reading, eating and watching things on the laptop.  Lazy right? Yep, yep, yep. But I have my reasons - give me a chance to explain.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

The world follows the US and UK for everything…literally everything.  Maybe it’s because these places monopolize our media? It’s tougher to find out what is happening in Malawi than in Los Angeles.  And see how far Los Angeles is compared to Malawi and to us?  In fashion as well, retailers do their research in the UK and US first; then the rest of Europe.  We are one season behind, so we are well set up for this follow-on game. But I can tell you that South Africans, just like Africans, have their own preferences.  We take some of the trends, leave some, and make others in our own way.  This is a list of what I have noticed this year making clothes for South African ladies.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Competition is a subject I did in marketing at college. We were reviewing the ways companies compete for markets.  Direct competition and indirect competition.  Direct competition is CocaCola and Pepsi.  Indirect would be CocaCola and all banting products.  This subject tells us that there’s one market for all these companies, and they must all fight for their attention.  Ways of fighting include pricing, ingredients, advertising, location, pairing with other power brands in the industry, and of late going green/healthy. Are you exhausted already? Me too, but read on…

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

It’s the height of any fashion season right now. Whether you are a designer, seamstress, wholesaler, model, photographer or PR person in fashion, you are busy from August till January. And all your ‘please order in July for September’ advice has fallen on deaf ears. You are managing those who listened and risk managing those who didn’t. No matter how many no’s you can say, someone always convinces you to ‘pretty please help’; most of the time you help because it is someone you like and want to dress….again.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Last week I was in Durban taking part in the KZN Fashion Council’s AFX expo. The main reason I agreed is they said there’s a fashion show and I will be showing. Well duh! Nothing is more exciting to a fashion designer than ‘hey here is a platform, come and show us what you can do’; everything is planned and in place, you much just show up. Thank God! So, I was already 80% into finishing the new range; I completed it and headed down. This range has been in my head for 4 months - I am that person….everything is in my head…writing it down is another mission.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

If you are on earth you have either heard or said the words ‘Why don’t you?’ to someone.  If you are a first generation business owner in your family, you hear these words from everyone. Humans are kind, first. We are keen to help. Sometimes even when we are not asked. I cannot begin to tell you how many times people have asked the question “Why don’t you?” to me, believing that whatever they are saying is most definitely the answer to my challenges. Some even have contacts for me to action this idea they have come up with. It’s highly appreciated but most times not what we need. Sometimes we just need to vent - about our businesses!  

By Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

A few months back I decided to remove myself from social media. Okay, let us say a percentage of me.  Or, was it a decision to remove social media from my life? I made a conscious decision to limit my time on it for personal reasons.  The biggest reason is social media is LOUD. And most of the time the loudness is so much negativity and pain happening all over the world.  So much information filed into my mind on a daily basis, and in some instances I found myself interacting emotionally, it was just not good.  One of the reasons our grandmothers have great skin is that they honestly didn’t know as much as we know about everything…and they made it through life!

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

In the 4 years that Roka Roko has been in existence, I have hired 6 people and lost all of them, each for different reasons. I have learned how tough it is to find the right person to hire and keep them. A lot of us say hiring is growth and give it a status, making it sound fancy and grand. Well, it is the same as the fashion industry, nothing fancy but really challenging.  

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Last night, as I am yet again worrying instead of sleeping as per ‘normal human behavior’, I started scolding myself for worrying so much.  And in turn helping the anxiety exist within me… and possibly assisting hypertension to revel!  It is midnight or just after midnight, and yes as per ‘Brigette normal behavior’, I am awake. I am in bed counting all the orders I have for this week; and the how much it will cost to make them and whether I have all those deposits, etc.  In my process of worry a voice says ‘worry about what you do have, and not what you do not have.’

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I’m sitting on the couch watching yet another episode of FRIENDS, which I have seen before and I’m laughing like it’s the first time.  I have 2 deadlines for today, 1 for tomorrow, 1 for Wednesday and 3 more for Saturday.  But I am sitting on this couch for this 30 minutes, for me.  I have just finished forcing myself to finish a whole sandwich and a cup of coffee; energy is necessary.  My lovely phone is buzzing and beeping away right next to me and I am ignoring it, totally. Just for 30 minutes.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I have written many pieces on the issue with operational capital…in simpler language, money.  Others call it petty cash, pocket money, or disposable income.  This is money every business or person should have to spend on unforeseen circumstances. This is a tricky thing because you are already trying to juggle what you have amongst the expenses you have; now I need extra cash for ‘in case’!  Well…ok then.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

When I was younger, I hated going through tough times.  Actually, I was mortified by them. I would drive myself into a frenzy of anxiety expecting them, then depress myself during them, and then just be in a bad mood afterwards. I was under the impression that bad things and times should not ever happen. Life is meant to be an easy, happy, fun and enjoyable experience. Here, ladies is one of the reasons I don’t miss being young!  

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

One of the worst things that can happen to me, or any  business person, is getting sick and needing to give myself a sick note, and as a result, not working.  My business, Roka Roko, is a wheel that needs to keep turning, and every day is so vital to the entire month being a success and ultimately the entire business dream. You see, I haven’t managed to get myself to a point where I can afford a week off!  So, we need to ensure that we do not take more than a day off in any week; plus all the other reasons like clients needing a dress in a week’s time.  So, as we are in the annual winter virus season, flu is not an option. No, no, no!

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

The other week I spent an entire day sorting out traffic tickets while I was meant to be working in the business, making clothes. I did not expect this, I just thought it was a quick thing and would be sorted literally quick, quick! I mean, my car licence disc is expired, you go to have it renewed, you pay and leave. In my head it should be around or less than R300 each car.  Ok cool, lets go.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

It is no secret that the entrepreneurship life is challenging; in so many ways, especially in South Africa with an economy like ours. The problems are many but all linked to cash flow.  If this is not managed it can result in health issues you never had before or worsening ones you already have. Getting sick or ending up in ICU because of an illness due to stress is the norm for those with stressful jobs and huge amounts of responsibility.  As a woman, well, you are just adding to your already hectic life when you decide to become a CEO of your own business.

by Brigitte Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

It is May, and I have had a few requests about weddings - mostly for events in December, and most of them believe it is still early to start the planning. No, it is not! A wedding party is a big job to dress, especially in South Africa where we have three or more bridesmaids and groomsmen; and we mostly have two weddings at a time. This is good business for a fashion designer but with more work comes more challenges. This is why it is essential that you start as early as possible; especially if you as the bride need more than one dress too.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

What is custom make/made? Some people call it bespoke, private clients, exclusivity, etc. I have been doing custom make since the business started; I did not choose this approach, it just kind of happened. I decided I wanted to make clothes and the flow into custom make came about just because the orders per client I received at the time, required a specific, detailed and more personal approach - a custom make service.  But I am currently also, some of my family and friends would say ‘finally’, in the process of including retail in the business model. People think it is a process of just deciding to multiply a certain style by a bigger quantity and voila! No, it is not! 

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

This article is to celebrate yourself as you are. Whoever you are and wherever you are, if you are alive, you are doing pretty well.  It’s so tough living today, and avoiding destruction daily.  We have more reasons to give up on some days; to just say aaag suka, I’m done.  But there is a chemical balance God bestowed upon you that makes you keep breathing everyday and the next, and as a bonus actually excel in a few areas in life.  This is my list of reasons why I am still alive and running a business in this economy.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Last week I met a man…wait, I had an interview with a man!  He gave off the energy that he believed he was more important than me, or many of us. He had an attitude about him, which I proceeded to be ignorant of, sending him further into his ego. We all meet people like this, every-single-day…and so you learn to just exist with them. I was doing just ok until he said, “What else do you have to offer, I’ve met so many like you, you are all the same.”  

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

Each time I speak to someone who renders a service I need for the business but know nothing about, I let them blab on with a straight face and say, ‘ok cool, I heard nothing but proceed’. They laugh; and attempt to explain again. And I start venturing into my happy places filled with waterfalls, meat, whisky and music… then return for the expected ‘uhhmm’.  This goes for the accountant, the digital marketing ‘what what’, the furniture creator guy, etc.  I tell them you have no clue what ‘arm scye’ means and is needed for in garment construction…wait what is garment construction?

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

People tell me they see I have made it. And I used to respond and say no, not really - I’m still working on it. They don’t believe it. They have their own measurements of success for me of course, and based on them, I have made it.  Well, thank God, because if they used my measurements I would be nowhere near success. I have learned to say thank you and receive the compliments; and see them as a small reminder from God that I am doing okay and on the right track.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

There are many things I do that seem selfish to many people; probably because they look like that; and also because behind them, these things are  mine only.  I have learned all these things are essential for me to stay alive, sane and motivated to complete all the great dreams our clients have.  Running a custom-made business is seriously a mind boggler.  You have over 300 clients; and have to remember each and every name; each design; each finish; each personality; each account, etc.  It can drive you insane, especially at peak business time.

by Brigette Mashile, founder of Roka Roko

I hate finishing. The process. But the aftermath is wonderful. I am talking about finishing in fashion design sense. Finishing is a process of … literally ‘finishing the garment’.  And it is a lot of work. It includes putting in zips, embellishments which could be 100 little beads, ironing (my pass time hate), putting in buttons, cutting off threads, making sure all stitches are in place; ironing again, putting labels on…etc.  So almost like quality control but slowly. It doesn’t matter how fast you are in life, you can never ever hurry finishing. Little things take forever to finish.