Having a career in Fashion has always been Nobuhle Jeza’s childhood dream but she did not believe in herself.

“I went into it with nothing but drive and knowing that I am now a qualified fashion designer which feels surreal,” she said ecstatically.

She will be obtaining her Diploma in Fashion and Textiles. at the prestigious Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2025 Autumn Graduation Ceremony which takes place at the  Olive Convention Centre in Durban.

“I never thought I would get here, let alone so soon. It feels like I was in first year only a few days ago but looking back it has actually been a long journey, and it was all worth it,” she replied.

As class of COVID in matric (2020), the pandemic had a major influence on her academic performance, and she had ended up under qualifying for all the courses I applied for at DUT. At the time it hurt, but it was a blessing in disguise for Jeza as during that year she had decided to take a leap of faith and follow her true passion in fashion. In 2022 she had enrolled for a Diploma in Fashion and Textiles.

Jeaza’s family reaction to her jubilant graduation news was of sheer excitement and joy.

“They are all extremely excited and proud that I have come so far but I honestly would not have made it this far without their support. They also cannot wait because they all have a personal fashion designer now,” she chuckled.

When Jeza was asked if fashion was her choice of study, she replied confidently that she believed fashion chose her. During her gap year in 2021 she got the opportunity to work at a retail store and being surrounded by clothing and people gave her a sense of comfort, but she wanted more. “I started doing thorough research on the opportunities in the fashion industry and found out that I could also study it at university. I applied, interviewed, and got accepted. I had no experience in drawing, had only bought my first domestic sewing machine just a month before the interview and I taught myself how to use it. I had no guidance, just passion and I followed it and now it has finally paid off,” she added euphorically.

Jeza further indicated that the Fashion department organised time management workshops for the students which were facilitated by Student Counselling and these helped the students to keep their academic lives organised and made her more productive.

In her time of studying, Jeza explained that the DUT values and principles played a huge role in her academic journey. “The DUT values I associate with are transparency, respect, and accountability. These have played a huge role in my academic journey as I entered this course with no art background or experience hence it was important to be transparent with my lectures and communicate things that I did not understand,” she conveyed.

However, there were some challenges she had faced as a student, her biggest challenge being time management. “It is one that I have struggled with since primary school and affected me throughout my qualification. Finding the balance between doing too much and too little was a battle in a every project but with DUT’s student support programmes I was able to overcome this during my final year,” she confessed.

Currently, Jeza is studying towards her Advanced Diploma in Fashion and Textiles. “I see myself thriving within the academic space hence I want to further my studies more, if funds allow, and become equipped to pass on the knowledge I have gained,” she replied. For Jeza, entrepreneurship is also one of her passions and hence she has different projects that she is working on to try and contribute to the fashion community.

Her advice to first year students who wants to embark on the same career is that it entails having drive, passion, and determination. “Your enthusiasm is your greatest asset-harness it to fuel your journey. Do not just follow trends, follow your heart. Invest yourself fully in every project, every opportunity, and every challenge. Your dream is worth the hard work and dedication. Stay focused, stay driven, and most importantly, stay true to your vision,” said Jeza.

Pictured: Nobuhle Jeza

Waheeda Peters