Sweetness Mubita keeps her Eye on African inspired Fashion

From the time that she was a little girl, Sweetness Mubita has been a little obsessed with fashion. Her favourite pastime was playing around with fabric, draping it on her growing body and preferring to ditch store-bought clothing from the time she could put together a decent outfit. Today, the South African/Namibian fashion designer gets to play dress up, but this time she does it for a living and has amassed a loyal client base over the years.

She showed off her ability to create the most elegant and unique garments when she showcased at the 2022 MTC Windhoek Fashion Week. The collection, a beautiful interpretation of her cultural roots and modern influences, is nothing short of stunning. From bright, flowy resort wear garments to traditional attire from both South Africa and Namibia, the collection is the perfect marriage between old and new.

I recently caught up with Sweetness to talk about the influences her multicultural heritage has on her work and what it has been like building her Eye on Fashion brand over the years …

Who were your main style influencers as you were growing up?

I’m originally from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. At a young age, my aunt suggested that I take on fashion design after noticing my unique sense of style. As a teenager, I was greatly influenced by Janet Jackson and Cyndi Lauper.

I loved Janet Jackson’s baggy style, her cropped tops and box braids.

I loved Cyndi Lauper’s love for bright colours.

Your brand is known mostly for its celebration of African heritage. What would you say is the importance of using fashion as a medium to propel our cultures?

Clothing in general speaks louder than words. It’s easy to identify someone from what they wear, be it a police officer in uniform or a scholar in school uniform. I have always been proudly African, and it shows in my dress code and the way I wear my hair. Now that I am grown, my designs are greatly influenced by Southern African cultural dresses. It is very important to show pride in our cultures through fashion, since it speaks the loudest.

Take me through your design process when creating a new garment?

I’m always excited whenever I have to design something new, especially when it’s something unique or challenging. I love a challenge, as it keeps me on my toes.

An idea comes to mind or a client gives me a design, then I draft the pattern and cut it out. Lastly, my seamstress assembles the dress until done. If there is any beading to be done, I do it myself or give it to my assistant to do it.

What about the mood board for your 2022 MTC Windhoek Fashion Week collection, how did that look?

My mood board was inspired by Namibian cultures. I received my invite late for the show, so I took some pieces from the stock I already had and made a few new ones. I’m sure you noticed I used quite a bit of Ondelela and my showstopper was a traditional Ovaherero-inspired dress.

A fashion designer whose work has evolved well with the changing times, Sweetness is excited to take her brand to the next level. On what her future plans are for Eye on Fashion, Sweetness says that she will continue to draw inspiration from her African heritage. “You can expect more funky, modern yet still Africa-inspired designs to capture the attention of the youth. You’ll also see more Namibian flag-inspired garments from my future collections,” she says.

To get in touch with Sweetness, follow her on Instagram @sweetsmubita and on Facebook @Sweets Ndwandwa Mubita.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based communications specialist, blogger and freelance fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni and Instagram @rukeekaakunga

Photography: Sims Mkhwanazi/Best Friends Studios