Women’s Month: Meet Bonolo Mashilo, Founder of BMashilo Designs

For Bonolo Mashilo, fashion began at home in Ntwane Lesehleng in Limpopo. Her grandmother dressed her in elaborate outfits and introduced her to an interest in clothing and personal style that would eventually become a career.

Mashilo studied fashion design at Tshwane University of Technology before gaining experience across different areas of the industry. She started out as a fashion assistant at Elle Magazine SA and later worked as fashion director at IMBO Magazine. S he then moved into retail, where she worked as a fashion buyer for Edcon.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

That experience gave her an understanding of both the creative and commercial sides of fashion. She eventually used that knowledge to establish BMashilo Designs, building the company from a small operation into an established South African fashion business.

The early stages were modest. Mashilo worked from her garage and employed two people as she developed the business. She has spoken about the importance of her corporate experience in preparing her for the responsibilities that came with becoming an employer and running her own company.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented another challenge. With events cancelled and customers requesting refunds, maintaining her studio became financially difficult. Mashilo returned home and moved the business online, allowing BMashilo Designs to continue operating while the fashion and events industries were disrupted.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

Today, the company offers ready-to-wear, bespoke and rental fashion. Its collections include dresses, sets, corsets and bridal pieces, while its bespoke service allows clients to commission individual designs.

Mashilo’s work has also reached some of South Africa’s best-known public figures. Her designs have been worn by Thuso Mbedu, Makhadzi and Basetsana Kumalo, among others. Mbedu wore the brand’s Enhle dress at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, bringing further attention to the label.

For Mashilo, however, building the business has also meant creating opportunities for other women in fashion. In an interview with Kaya 959, she spoke about entering an industry where she did not often see people who looked like her running successful fashion businesses. That experience influenced her approach to employing and supporting young Black women entering the industry.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

The BMashilo Designs Institute is part of that work. The company says the institute is focused on developing fashion talent, while its current founder profile states that the business employs nearly 30 people.

Representation has also featured in Mashilo’s collections. A Village Dream, Representation and Pelo Ya Phiri: Living the Legacy explore themes connected to identity, heritage and inclusion. The Representation collection, in particular, was created around inclusivity and the idea that women should be able to see themselves reflected in fashion.

Her career has therefore developed beyond designing individual garments. Her experience spans fashion media, buying, design, retail and entrepreneurship, giving her an understanding of the industry from several sides.

Photo: Instagram/@Bonolo Mashilo

As BMashilo Designs reaches its 10-year milestone in 2026, Mashilo’s career offers a useful example of what it takes to build a fashion business beyond the creative process. She has developed a label, created employment and established a platform for developing new talent while continuing to produce clothing for private clients and public figures.

For Women’s Month, her story is a reminder that success in fashion can extend beyond what appears on the runway or in a photograph. It can also be measured by the businesses built, the jobs created and the opportunities made available to the next generation.