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Sanele Myeni was doing grade 12 when he became fascinated by the jewellery he used to see in malls when he was hanging out with friends.
He became curious as to how it was designed, and a couple of years later Myeni, 24, who graduated from Durban University of Technology (DUT) with a diploma in jewellery design, is the owner of Minimalistic Jewellery Designs – one of the few black-owned businesses in the jewellery industry
Myeni, who was born in Isipingo outside Durban, says after he completed his diploma he went for training at Design50, a commercial training institute for jewellery manufacturing and design, where he was taught how to design jewellery using computer software.
“I started making jewellery while I was still at the university as a way to make money while studying. I began by custom-made jewellery for private clients. After some time with the growing of the business, I decided that I wanted to make commercial jewellery but had no idea on how to go about it, and that was when I joined Design50,” Myeni says.
After he completed his diploma and was still trying to start his own jewellery design company, Myeni was fortunate to be employed as a multi-skilled computer aided designer for Mizane Jewellery in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.
“I was very lucky as the owner allowed us to start our own businesses on the side and I am grateful to him as my clientele is growing on a daily basis. I specialise with commercial jewellery which is sold on a daily basis,” he says.
He uses social media to market himself and his target market is both the youth and older people who want to polish their old rings.
“In this industry there are few black entrepreneurs and the aim is to grow and also inspire other young people who want to follow in this journey,” he said.
To grow his business, Myeni says he would like to travel to different countries around the world to expand his knowledge in his profession and study their practices.
Myeni says he is grateful to his mother who raised him and two other siblings as a single parent.
“Life was not easy for her but she kept pushing for us to get a better future even though she had many challenges that she was faced with. I am what I am today because of my mother,” he says.
Myeni says he would like to open an online store where he would be able to sell his merchandise.
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