The MamaGaga story
From a fabric shop childhood to a sewing room in Tergniet, held together by family.
A journey of creativity and resilience
From a tender age, I was immersed in the vibrant world of fabric and design, growing up in a fabric shop owned by my grandparents, affectionately known as "nona" and "nono". Their shop, filled with colourful bolts of material, ignited my passion for textures and patterns. Watching my mother transform fabric into beautiful creations inspired my love for design.
Though born into a family of fashion designers, I forged my own path in graphic design. Winning a competition to redesign South African currency in my final college year launched my career, leading to valuable experience and the establishment of Santana Graphix in 2007, where I have been bringing clients' visions to life ever since.
Motherhood and miracles
My dream of becoming a mother was realized through the adoption of my daughter, Isabella, after struggling with infertility. Miraculously, seven years later I gave birth to my son, Benjamin, and three years after that to our youngest daughter, Rebecca Alice.
It is only by God's grace that I balance motherhood, running Santana Graphix and homeschooling my children. I am privileged to work from home and I cherish the moments we share as a family. Benjamin's nickname for Isabella, "Gaga", inspired the name "MamaGaga".
A legacy of love and strength
I am grateful for my amazing mother-in-law, "Heydi-Bo" (Heather Alice), who became like a mother to me. She showed unwavering devotion to her family, selflessly serving and supporting them with unconditional love. She inspired me to start sewing again and gifted me her cherished Bernina sewing machine.
Just three months later she passed away after bravely fighting cancer, leaving a lasting impact on our family. Her legacy continues to inspire me to strive to be as extraordinary a mother as she was. I finally opened the sewing machine a year later, and that is when my sewing journey as MamaGaga began.
Bella, a budding design genius
Bella's creativity and passion for fashion were evident from a young age. She has always been fascinated by shoes, clothing and accessories, and enjoyed expressing herself through her outfits. When we moved into our dream home in 2021, she chose sewing lessons as an extramural activity. I decided to join her, and we both fell in love with the craft.
Bella was a natural, and her talent amazed me. Our sewing journey brought us closer together, and we began creating gifts for loved ones. This shared passion eventually blossomed into MamaGaga, a bespoke clothing boutique.
A new path unfolds
My journey from a fabric shop to founding Santana Graphix, becoming a mother, and now creating MamaGaga, is a testament to God's grace and blessings. It is a story of creativity, resilience and empowerment, all held together by my unwavering love for my family.
My children and husband are the heartbeat of MamaGaga, and I am grateful for this beautiful life that has been woven together with purpose and passion.