The faces behind
Issabel's Story
Issabel King found her love for fashion after school and was able to work as an intern with a fashion designer in Malawi. With her drawing skills, she was hired as a sketch artist and was able to work closely with the designer. Although she was studying business management, she took the opportunity to study fashion and textiles at the DAPP Mikolongwe vocational school. A scholarship from a Dutch organization allowed her to expand her knowledge and opened her own shop in 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she financed her business by making face masks for a school in Italy. Today, she works as a seamstress for the Malawian military during the week and works in her own shop in the evenings and on weekends.
The Story
The Shop
Issabel opened her shop "Iza Fashion" in Malawi's old capital, Zomba, in 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the focus was on producing face masks for a school in Italy, which secured the financing of the business and enabled the purchase of better machines. Today, Issabel works and lives closely with her best friend Tapiwa. The two continue to take on trainees in the company in order to meet the requests of customers (mostly from the immediate area). On the other hand, the two trained designers can pass on their knowledge and contribute to local economic growth.
The Story
The Impact
The bags and "Iza Fashion" both celebrate and promote Malawian culture through unique pieces that reflect local heritage while merging with modern design elements. By sourcing materials from local markets, such as Chisomo's Chitenje fabric in Zomba, the local economy is supported. Issabel's work not only creates beautiful and timeless fashion items, but also contributes to the community by promoting local talent and training budding tailors and designers. This initiative particularly promotes the independence and creativity of women to offer them new opportunities and perspectives. The aim is to inspire and promote a generation of designers who are passionate about creating fashion.