Long before the fashion brand ‘La Mode Fashions’ became a name in Namibia’s fashion industry, it began as a childhood dream called B-Lago.
Leah Misika, a seasoned fashion designer based in Katima Mulilo with more than 15 years’ experience, is the young woman behind the fashion brand.
She said her dream began years ago, taking shape when she was about eight, watching fashion shows on F-TV on DStv, which opened her eyes to a world she wanted to be part of.
By Grade 7, inspired by her two best friends, Misika had named her ambition. What began as a childhood idea has grown into a career spanning fashion design, styling, entrepreneurship, retail and vocational education. Recently, the Zambezi Vocational Training Centre (ZVTC) appointed her as a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Trainer in Clothing Production, opening a new chapter in skills development. Misika sees the role not as a departure from fashion, but as an opportunity to share her years of industry knowledge and experience with aspiring professionals.
“I am a fashion designer with an aptitude for business and a calling to share knowledge,” Misika explained.
Beyond the runway
Misika rose to prominence in 2014, winning Best Female Designer of the Year at Ghana’s Mercedes-Benz African Fashion Festival. She said the award marked a career milestone and brought her work recognition at home and abroad, but she believes a successful career takes more than awards. “For me, recognition is meaningful, but what you do with the opportunities, experience and knowledge you gain afterwards matters just as much,” said Misika after her appointments at the ZVTZ.
Misika said working across the country’s fashion industry and beyond has broadened her understanding of its challenges. Passion and talent aren’t enough to sustain a fashion business; designers must understand the market, manage scarce resources, take calculated risks and turn creativity into a viable business. Building a brand around something they love can also be difficult, as commercial decisions may require setting aside personal feelings, a challenge she has faced.
“My experience has convinced me that a stronger fashion industry needs business knowledge, technical skills, collaboration and opportunities for people to develop,” said Misika, adding that she hopes to bring these lessons into her new role as a trainer in clothing production at ZVTC.
Fashion with a message
According to Misika, fashion is about more than clothing.
“It is also a way for women to express themselves, recognise their worth and challenge expectations,” she said, adding that she wants women who wear her designs to feel confident about who they are rather than allow others to define them.
“I can say that my work is not simply about what a woman wears, but also about how they see themselves and how they choose to occupy spaces,” she said.
She believes fashion can express identity, challenge social expectations and spark conversations about real-world issues. Guided by personal purpose, she uses her talent to create work beyond personal success, work that resonates with people and builds confidence.
Taking industry experience into training
Misika said her appointment as a VET Trainer in Clothing Production has brought her designer and entrepreneur experience into vocational education, marking a milestone step up in her long-overdue career.
She said vocational training can help strengthen the fashion industry by equipping young people and aspiring designers with practical skills to find employment, start businesses and contribute to economic growth, especially in clothing production.
“All I can say is that creative vision and technical ability must work together for the industry to progress. Some people have ideas but lack the skills to realise their designs; others have technical abilities that need creativity and opportunities to support them. We need both. The two must work together if we are to build a stronger industry,” she said.
Her new role also reflects her long-standing belief in sharing knowledge. Misika sees vocational education as a natural extension of her career, allowing her to combine her industry knowledge with the responsibility of helping others develop their abilities.
Advice for young designers
Although Misika’s journey has also taught her that building a fashion business requires preparation, patience, and strength, she advises upcoming designers and young people entering the fashion market to understand that talent and passion do not automatically guarantee success. “Aspiring designers must learn about their target markets, understand the business side of fashion and be prepared for the risks that come with entrepreneurship,” she said, adding that young creatives must stay open to learning and recognise that their abilities must keep growing as their businesses develop.
She said passion may start the journey, but knowledge, business discipline, flexibility, and a willingness to learn sustain the fashion business journey.
Building an impact beyond fashion
As Misika begins her new chapter at ZVTC, she said four values continue to guide her decisions: design, business, people and impact.
She hopes the knowledge she shares with trainees will eventually benefit others through employment, entrepreneurship, and skill-sharing.
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