Namibian entrepreneur turns a lifelong passion for fashion into a thriving business and opportunity for young women

At the market in Walvis Bay, 42-year-old Vistorina Komeya moves between the two stalls she rents. One is where she manages customers and does fittings; the other is where her three full-time employees work alongside her, sewing and finishing orders. Together, the stalls form the home of her business, Vissy Fashion Design and Trading CC, formally registered in 2014.

Vistorina began learning tailoring as a child. She took on paid sewing jobs in her youth to strengthen her skills, guided by her mother, who encouraged her to build something of her own. As Vistorina recalls, "My mother was not happy with me working for someone else. She told me ‘even if you lose a job, you must have something that works for you." Still, Vistorina wanted industry experience first. She worked in other people's workshops, even accepting low wages, because she knew the skills would matter.

When she eventually started her own small business, she went door to door offering made-to-measure clothing. For years she worked alone, sharing a small room with another entrepreneur. Income fluctuated, but she continued developing her craft, learning how to manage demanding customers, meet deadlines, and navigate inconsistent orders.

Vistorina joined the EntreprenHER programme in 2018, becoming part of its first cohort in Namibia. She describes the training as a turning point, particularly in how she manages the financial side of her business: "Before, I used to take money and put it in my pocket. Now that I record everything, I can see where I improved and where I went down. It gives me history." This history, she says, helps her decide when to purchase materials, when to take on contract orders, and how to plan for slow seasons.

The training also strengthened her marketing. She began wearing outfits she designed to meetings and social events so people could see the quality of her work. "People say, 'You look so good,' and I tell them it is the work of my hands," she explains. This simple strategy has brought in new customers and referrals.

As her client base grew, Vistorina reinvested in equipment. She started with one sewing machine. Today she owns four industrial machines and three domestic machines, allowing her to take on larger and more complex work. One major job in 2024 involved producing 400 pieces of corporate wear, from which she earned about N$25,000 in a single month.

That growth has translated into jobs. Vistorina now employs three full-time young women who sew and assist with production, and she intentionally focuses on hiring unemployed youth with fashion design training. One of her employees, Lucia Shatipamba, says working with Vistorina has been an important opportunity: "I was unemployed after finishing my fashion design qualification. She took a chance on me. She teaches us everything and makes sure we grow. Now I am economically active."

The business has also strengthened Vistorina's ability to support her household. She cares for three children and contributes to the needs of her mother and younger sister, who is in her third year at university. Reliable income means she can plan ahead: "Before, January was stressful. Now I buy school uniforms and materials in October or November."

Despite this progress, space remains her biggest constraint. Market stalls are small, and dust from nearby activities affects finished garments. Although AWOME programme follow-ups have encouraged her to move to larger, formal spaces such as malls, she says the rental costs are too high. Instead, her plan is to save and convert a double garage at home into a proper workshop where she and her team can work together in a clean, organised space.

Looking ahead, Vistorina hopes to continue growing steadily. She wants to secure more institutional orders, expand her client base beyond Swakopmund, and create more jobs for young women entering the fashion sector: "I want to employ youth so that when I am older, they will continue the work.