An entrepreneurial journey that began at the North-West University (NWU) has taken Agreement Sibiya from Mahikeng and Pretoria to international recognition in Jamaica.
Her sustainable fashion business, Bambo Queen ReStyle Africa, secured 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 achievement highlights the opportunities created through the Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) programme at the NWU, which supports aspiring entrepreneurs in developing their business ideas and building sustainable enterprises.
Agreement, a junior lecturer at the Mahikeng Campus, joined the programme with an entrepreneurial idea and a passion for fashion. Three months later, she formally registered Bambo Queen ReStyle Africa, turning her vision into a business operating between Mahikeng and Pretoria.
The venture specialises in new and pre-loved clothing, personalised styling, clothing repairs, restyling and upcycling. Through its circular fashion model, the business aims to reduce textile waste, celebrate African fashion and create economic opportunities for women and young people.
Her inspiration comes from her mother, who raised three children as a single parent and demonstrated the resilience and determination required to build a livelihood through entrepreneurship. Agreement wants ReStyle Africa to reflect those values by using fashion as a vehicle for empowerment and opportunity.
Building the business has not been without challenges. Agreement experienced financial losses during its early stages and had to learn the practical realities of entrepreneurship, including sourcing, pricing, customer relations, sales and financial management.
A significant breakthrough came when she participated in a pitch at the NWU Leopards’ Lair competition, where she secured R30 000 in funding to strengthen and develop the business.
Taking African fashion to the world
The invitation to participate in the Jamaican conference and expo marked an important milestone for ReStyle Africa.
Representing the NWU, Agreement travelled through São Paulo and Panama before arriving in Jamaica. Due to customs-clearance considerations, she could only take five selected fashion pieces to the exhibition. The collection featured African prints combined with contemporary designs.
The response to her designs exceeded her expectations. By the end of the exhibition, she had sold three of the five pieces, securing the first international customers for her business. She also engaged with entrepreneurs from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and The Bahamas, exploring opportunities for collaboration and the potential export of South African fashion products.
Her participation extended beyond the exhibition. She 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. These engagements opened conversations about possible academic collaboration, including the development of a future academic article.
Agreement was also invited to participate in a panel discussion, where she shared her entrepreneurial journey and reflected on how the STEP programme of the NWU contributed to her development. The experience gave her an opportunity to engage with established academics and university leaders, while representing the entrepreneurial potential of the NWU graduates.
Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs
Martin Manmohan, entrepreneurship ecosystem manager at the NWU, said Agreement’s achievement demonstrates 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.”
Agreement acknowledged the contribution of the NWU to her journey, particularly the opportunities for entrepreneurship development and international exposure. She also expressed gratitude to Dr Kezell Klinck for her continued encouragement and support, as well as Martin and Oarabile Manyaapelo, a lecturer and agripreneur at the NWU Business School, for their guidance and expertise.
Looking ahead, Agreement hopes to expand ReStyle Africa sustainably, establish international partnerships and create more opportunities for women and young people in the fashion industry.
From Klipgat to Mahikeng and Pretoria, and now Jamaica, her journey demonstrates how an idea developed locally can create opportunities internationally. For Agreement, this award is not the destination but the beginning of greater possibilities.
“We do not just want to restyle clothes. We want to restyle possibilities,” she says.
Agreement Sibiya secured first place in the Emerging Entrepreneur category with her sustainable fashion business, Bambo Queen ReStyle Africa, at the International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Expo in Jamaica.
