From school uniforms to fashion success

DAR ES SALAAM: FOR many successful entrepreneurs the journey begins with a simple observation that later grows into a life-changing idea. For Esther Kelvin, popularly known as Essy Fashion, that defining moment came while she was still a secondary school student.

Today, Esther is a wife, a mother and the Chief Executive Officer of Essy Fashion. Yet long before she built a fashion brand or led a team of designers, her story had already begun unfolding quietly in the most unexpected place, a school uniform that did not feel right to her. “I started sewing when I was in Form One,” she recalls.

What first pushed her into tailoring was not formal training or influence from a family member, but dissatisfaction with what she wore every day at school.

“What attracted me to tailoring was the fact that the school uniforms we were given were not very attractive. The skirts we wore did not look good to me. I had two skirts, so I took them apart and redesigned them. In the end, I created one that looked much better,” she said.

At the time, she did not see herself as an entrepreneur. It was simply an attempt to improve something she felt could be better. But that small act of creativity quickly became something more when her classmates noticed the difference.

“When I went back to school, my fellow students noticed that my skirt looked different from theirs. They kept asking why it was different, and I explained what I had done. Soon, they started asking me to do the same for them.”

Without planning it, Esther had taken her first steps into a world that would later become her profession. What began as curiosity slowly turned into responsibility as more students requested her help with their uniforms and simple outfits for school events.

Before long, she was sewing graduation outfits, CASFETA uniforms and small designs for school celebrations.

The designs were simple, but they gave her something far more valuable than money at that stage, experience. At the same time, they introduced her to her first earnings.

“At that age, I was being paid 3,000/- per job. It was a lot of money for me then,” she says with a soft laugh. “Not all of us grew up in comfortable circumstances.

That little money helped me with personal needs and motivated me to continue.” Even though the amounts were small, they represented something significant. For Esther, it was proof that her skills had value and that creativity could be turned into income. As she continued through secondary school, her interest in sewing did not fade.

Instead, it grew stronger. Every new request from classmates became a chance to learn something new, whether it was cutting fabric more accurately, improving finishing or understanding different body fits. However, her journey was not limited to school alone.

After completing secondary education, Esther joined the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) where she pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Information Technology. Despite entering a completely different academic field, her passion for fashion remained unchanged.

“I used every opportunity I gotta do what I loved, even while studying at university, I continued sewing from my hostel room,” she said.

Balancing university life and tailoring was not easy. While other students spent their free time relaxing or socialising, Esther often divided her time between assignments and sewing work.

Sometimes she worked late into the night trying to complete orders, and at other times she had to manage limited resources while still delivering quality work to clients. Those years quietly shaped her discipline.

They taught her how to manage time, how to work under pressure and how to remain consistent even when conditions were not perfect. Looking back, she sees that period as an important foundation for her future business.

After years of learning and practice, Esther eventually took a more serious step in 2018 when she decided to formalise her passion into a business. That decision marked the birth of Essy Fashion.

At first, it was not a large company. It was a growing idea supported by determination and a strong belief that her skills could go further than small school projects. Like many young entrepreneurs, the beginning came with uncertainty.

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There were challenges in finding stable clients, building trust and balancing responsibilities.

But she remained committed to improving her craft and delivering quality work with every order she received. Over time, word of mouth began to spread.

People who received her designs started recommending her to others. Slowly, her client base expanded beyond school environments into wider community events and personal clients seeking custom designs.

As the business grew, so did her responsibilities. Today, Essy Fashion operates with a team that supports production, but Esther remains closely involved in every stage of the process.

She believes that one of the most important lessons for any designer is understanding the entire production process, not just one part of it.

“As a designer, you need to understand every process in your business,” she explains. “In our workshop we design, sew and decorate. I can personally do all those things. That helps me guide my team and maintain quality.”

For her, this hands-on approach is not just about control but about ensuring consistency. She believes that when a business owner does not understand the technical side of their work, it becomes easy for mistakes to go unnoticed.

“If you don’t understand your own work, you may think everything is fine while customers see something different,” she explained. As her experience grew, Esther also began to understand another important reality of business, managing growth.

One of the most common mistakes she observes among young designers is taking more orders than they can handle. “The problem is not getting customers,” she said.

“The problem is failing to deliver on time.” She explains that delayed orders often lead to complaints, loss of trust and damage to reputation, even when the quality of work is good.

“Your customers are your most valuable asset. If you keep delaying their orders, they will complain, and eventually your name will suffer.”

To avoid this, she advises designers to focus on quality and capacity rather than volume. “Reduce the number of orders and increase your prices. Work with fewer clients who value quality.

That way, you reduce pressure and increase profit.” She also encourages using structured booking systems, including deposits and scheduled slots, to better manage time and expectations. Alongside that, she believes delegation is important for growth.

Simple tasks such as cutting fabric or basic stitching can be handled by assistants, while the designer focuses on creativity and finishing.

“Being busy does not always mean being productive,” she said.

For Esther, success in fashion is also about visibility and quality. She believes that good work naturally attracts customers without excessive marketing.

“Let your work speak for you, if your quality is poor, you will spend time convincing people. But if your work is excellent, customers will come to you,” she said.

This belief has guided her approach to presentation, especially in finishing details, which she considers one of the most important parts of garment production. “A garment is not complete until every detail is perfect,” she added.

Her journey has also taught her the importance of continuous learning. She admits that she did not start with all the skills she has today.

“When I started, I didn’t know everything, but as I learned new skills, I attracted better clients and better opportunities,” she said.

From simple school uniforms to more advanced designs such as wedding gowns and party dresses, her growth has been shaped by constant improvement.

“Fashion changes every day. If you stop learning, you stop growing.”

Another principle she strongly believes in is pricing. “Your pricing determines your value,” she said.

She explained that low pricing may attract many customers, but it can limit long-term growth by keeping a business at the same level for years.

Finally, she emphasizes the importance of teamwork. As Essy Fashion expanded, she learned that maintaining quality requires training and consistency across all staff members.

“I show my team exactly how I want things done, and I check every product before it reaches the customer,” she said.

Eight years after formally launching her business in 2018, Esther Kelvin continues to grow her brand while balancing family life and entrepreneurship.

Her story is one of patience, discipline and transformation, from a young girl altering a school uniform to a businesswoman shaping a growing fashion brand.

As Tanzania’s creative industry continues to expand, she hopes her journey will inspire other young women to believe in their skills and pursue their ambitions with confidence.

“Every time you improve your skills, you create new opportunities for yourself,” she says. “Never stop learning because growth comes from continuously becoming better at what you do.”

The post From school uniforms to fashion success first appeared on Daily News.

The post From school uniforms to fashion success appeared first on Daily News.