Fashion passion: Rich union from a well-heeled beginning

So had entrepreneur Nicole Sithole. Neither of the two women knew it at the time, but that pair of heels was to become the foundation of many good garments - the resulting partnership led to the creation of the luxe-inspired womenswear brand Mapitso.

"We met in 2011 through a mutual friend of ours who owns a boutique," says Sithole. "Mapitso was there almost every week to come buy whatever new shoe she would have been saving up for. I told her that I loved the way she dressed. I loved the colours. She said: 'I have a passion for fashion and I'm currently studying it. I don't know anyone here in Durban. I'm from Matatiele.'"

Sithole says she was so taken by the talent and drive of her new friend that she offered to help her set up a business once Mokhele had completed her diploma.

"I was inspired - this was someone who was still a student. She would go into town to buy vintage clothing but would then put a very expensive look together from it.

"The company is called Rich Couture," says Sithole. "It comes from the way she dresses up. She's elegant. She's classy. She emphasises originality. She always says: 'I'm not a seamstress, I'm a designer.'"

Sithole, who owns and runs a business consultancy company in which she mentors young entrepreneurs, taught Mokhele how to run a business.

"I always say to Mapitso: 'There's no such thing as overdelivering.' She can pull together a quality collection in a week. For South African Fashion Week she slept in the studio and would wake up around 5am to go home and take a shower before returning."

The designer herself is one of those lucky people who realised what they loved at a young age and found ways to do it.

"I've always loved classic style," she says. "I loved watching international fashion shows for inspiration. From that I developed a taste for what's now important to me in a garment - quality fabric and good construction. I sew everything myself, every garment comes from me."

Her creative process is intuitive.

"I work as I go. Everything comes straight from my head as I'm sewing.

"We have one client who says: 'Every piece of yours I put on is powerful.' African women tend to be luscious, so I don't do designs which are skimpy or too fitted."

• Mapitso's showroom is at 30 Marriott Road, Durban. www.mapisto.co.za
• Instagram: @mapitso_designer