Phumelele Kunene

From Working for Her Boss to Being Her Own Boss

While some people go into 'crying mode' after being laid off, others --like Phumelele Kunene-- use that time to start a business. The tears she shed after being laid off were not tears of self-pity, but joy and liberation.

"That was the best thing that ever happened to me at the time, because  I wanted to launch my business," said Kunene. 

At 12 p.m., employees usually have one thing in the back of their mind --lunch-- not being laid off.

On 7 January 2013, at noon, nearly 1000 JPMorgan Chase & Co. employees were laid off. Kunene, a research analyst for JPMorgan Chase at the time, saw the heavens open up. In her mind she was free, free to finally be her own boss.

"I feel like my father groomed me to think like an entrepreneur," Kunene explained.

In the 90s, Kunene worked as bookkeeper at her father's law firm in Swaziland.

Not only did her father hire her because she was competent and trustworthy, he felt that experience in bookkeeping would enable Kunene to do her own bookkeeping when she decided to become an entrepreneur.

Today, Kunene is indeed an entrepreneur. She launched her clothing line BlackPhumelele, on 20 February 2013. And only a month after the birth of BlackPhumelele, she made an appearance on NBC Today Show.

The name BlackPhumelele is a marriage of two powerful words. 

She incorporated her name Phumelele (which in her native language, Siswati, means success), and black to empower black entrepreneurs to follow their dreams.

Kunene feels that fashion is an expression of who you are without saying it. And, that fashion breaks through cultural barriers. 

If fashion is an expression of who we are, then Kunene's long dreadlocks that fall to her back certainly is an expression of who she is --fierce and audacious. 

Kunene studied marketing management at IMM Graduate School, in South Africa. Notably, she had no background education in fashion design prior to launching her clothing line. 

"I thought that designing was just a dream, but once I used the sewing machine, I became inspired."

Raw talent, self-drive and dedication gave Kunene the force to build a solid home-based business.

BlackPhumelele designs are suitable for the business woman who is adventurous. Hard and soft textile are merged to give the woman a sensual,  edgy and feminine look.

When she custom designs attire for her clients, she adds elements of who they are, so that they, too, can feel they've contributed to the creation of a beautiful and unique garment. 

Because Kunene is self-employed, she has the luxury of time. No waking up at 6 a.m. to turn off an alarm, and no relying on a 9 to 5 to secure her finances. She's a boss!

"You want to do something that you love to do and not feel like you are going to work," Kunene said with a gentle smile that would soften even the heart of a criminal. 

The designer's raw talent is not only drawing cash flow into her bank account, it is also helping her preserve it, for whatever she wants to wear, she can design for herself.

Not a 10-foot long chain, a Dodge Brothers truck, nor the force of gravity can pull down Kunene, because her attitude towards life and success is  unshakable.

"I know that when I say something, it goes that way, I also know that if I don't take any action things won't move," the South African designer reassured.

Although Kunene enjoys the luxury of being her own boss, she is working tenaciously behind the scenes because in two years, she plans on having her designs in Bergdorf Goodman, a high-end store located on Fifth Avenue.

"Know your why," the entrepreneur advised. "When you are connected to your why, you will have an easier time accomplishing your goals."

                              

A Glimpse of Kunene's World

Kunene on the runway

The Real Women, Real Fashion event in NYC, hosted by fashion designer Derek Fabulous

BlackPhumelele Designs

BlackPhumelele Fashion Shoot at Brooklyn Bridge Park (May 2013)

      "I love adding soft details to hard fabrics to finish a look."-Kunene 

"I love prints and grew up around trees, nature and rough terrain in Swaziland."-Kunene

More of BlackPhumelele designs

"I love simple, classy silhouette lace. It has this softness and delicate appeal; it speaks to femininity."-Kunene

BlackPhumelele Collection

Kunene at Bottomless Closet event, receiving an award for successfully developing and launching her own business

Voices of Zen launch in Brooklyn, a guided meditation product for women who have lost an expectant child, authored and recorded by Sonia Daly

Kunene with American entrepreneur and former fashion model Kimora Lee Simmons

Kunene at the South African General consul, a cocktail celebration honoring South African designer David Tlale's successful participation of the New York Spring 2014 fashion week

Kunene attending the annual Dress For Success gala at the NYC Hyatt hotel, where she was one of the success ambassadors for 2012

"Never take 'no' from anybody."-Kunene

                 

Ways to reach Kunene:

Twitter: Blackphumelele
Instagram: Blackphumelele

Facebook: BlackPhumelele