South African Sustainable Fashion Startup Wins in Jamaica

Agreement Sibiya won first place in the Emerging Entrepreneur category at the International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Expo, hosted by the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Jamaica. Her company, Bambo Queen ReStyle Africa, sells new and pre-loved clothing, personalised styling, repairs, restyling and upcycling between Mahikeng and Pretoria.

The prize caps a fast climb. Sibiya, a junior lecturer at North-West University's (NWU) Mahikeng Campus, joined the university's Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) programme with an idea and a passion for fashion. Three months later she formally registered the business.

The venture runs a circular fashion model. It aims to cut textile waste, celebrate African fashion and create economic opportunities for women and young people. Her inspiration is personal: her mother raised three children as a single parent and built a livelihood through entrepreneurship. Sibiya wants the company to carry those values and use fashion as a vehicle for empowerment.

The early stages brought real costs. Sibiya absorbed financial losses and learned the practical mechanics of running a business on the fly — sourcing, pricing, customer relations, sales and financial management. The turning point came at the NWU Leopards' Lair pitch competition, where she secured R30 000 in funding to strengthen and develop the company.

What happened in Jamaica?

The invitation to the conference and expo marked a milestone for the young business. Sibiya represented the NWU and travelled through São Paulo and Panama before arriving in Jamaica. Customs-clearance rules limited her to five selected fashion pieces. The collection combined African prints with contemporary designs.

The response beat her expectations. She sold three of the five pieces by the end of the exhibition, securing her first international customers. She also met entrepreneurs from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, exploring collaboration and potential export of South African fashion products.

Her work extended beyond the sales table. Sibiya engaged with UWI leadership and academics, including Prof. Canute Thompson, pro vice-chancellor, Dr Shakira Maxwell from the office of the vice-chancellor, and Andrea Maynard from Global Affairs. Those conversations opened talks on academic collaboration, including a possible future academic article. She also joined a panel discussion, where she shared her entrepreneurial journey and explained how the STEP programme shaped her development.

What does the win say about university startup support?

The NWU frames the result as evidence for its entrepreneurship pipeline. Martin Manmohan, entrepreneurship ecosystem manager at the NWU, said the achievement shows the importance of supporting emerging entrepreneurs through practical development, mentorship and exposure.

"Agreement's journey demonstrates what is possible when entrepreneurial ideas are supported and given the opportunity to grow. Through initiatives such as the STEP Programme, the NWU seeks to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to develop viable businesses," he said.

"Her achievement in Jamaica demonstrates that businesses developed in our university ecosystem can connect with international markets and create opportunities beyond the borders of South Africa. We are proud of her accomplishment and hope her story inspires other students and graduates to consider entrepreneurship as a pathway to innovation, employment creation and economic development," Manmohan added.

Sibiya credited the NWU for entrepreneurship development and international exposure. She thanked Dr Kezell Klinck for continued encouragement and support, and Martin and Oarabile Mannyaapelo — a lecturer and agripreneur at the NWU Business School — for guidance and expertise.

What comes next?

Sibiya plans to expand the company sustainably, establish international partnerships and create more opportunities for women and young people in the fashion industry. The route from Klipgat to Mahikeng and Pretoria, and now Jamaica, shows how a locally developed idea can open international doors. For her, the award is a beginning, not a destination.

"We do not just want to restyle clothes. We want to restyle possibilities," she said.