Suraya Williams: Empowering Change with Design26
Meet Suraya Williams, the innovative leader of Design26, an impact-driven clothing brand dedicated to providing dignity and hope to women. With a focus on timeless basics, Design26 enhances wardrobes while making a positive community impact.
Suraya's journey in fashion blends style with social responsibility. She founded Design26 to empower women through thoughtfully crafted clothing that reflects quality and purpose. The versatile collection prioritizes comfort and style, promoting dignity for those who wear it.
More than a clothing brand, Design26 is a movement to uplift women and create job opportunities. With recent funding from RLabs through their Thundafund accounts, Suraya plans to purchase additional machinery to enhance production capacity and promote ethical fashion.
She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their passions and stay true to their values, believing that small actions can lead to significant change.
Suraya exemplifies how passion and purpose can drive positive change in the fashion industry. Support Design26's mission by exploring their timeless clothing collection!
VIP Graduate
Vendor at FICS summit 2025
YIP Journey
Suraya Williams — Business name: Design26
This solution addresses textile waste, which significantly contributes to landfills, as many textiles are discarded without reuse. By shredding these materials and mixing them with sustainable glue, we create unique candle holders and vases. This process diverts waste while offering eco-friendly decor for hotels, spas, and retail outlets.
May 2025 Highlights
- G20 Women Empowerment Conference Collaboration: Proudly manufactured bags for the G20 Women Empowerment Conference, hosted by the Development Bank of South Africa.
May 2025 Challenges
Nothing new except for the constant challenge of accessing new markets and the competitiveness of the industry we operate in.
June 2025 Highlights
- A specialized machine was purchased with funding from tranche payment. It is still being set up due to it being an imported machine. Design26 was also a vendor at Decorex Cape Town selling their upcycled home décor products.
June 2025 Challenges
Sales during winter is always slow and access to market outside of our normal circle is a constant challenge.
July 2025 Highlights
- Interview on Radio Eerste River. Gave 4 Interns Permanent contracts. Had another interview on Radio Voice of the Cape.
July 2025 Challenges
Sales continue to be slow during winter season. Market access is our biggest challenge and having to compete with pricing and bulk order fulfillments vs operational cost.
August 2025 Challenges
Sales were very little even through all our social media efforts trying to promote our business offering.
September 2025 Highlights
- Appointed 2 new Youth Directors.
- Invited by Nedbank to submit an RFI for their corporate wear.
- Selected as a finalist in the IWISA 1 Community Championship Competition.
- Nominated for the CSI Legacy Awards and the Woman of Stature Awards 2026.
September 2025 Challenges
Getting customers to pay on time has a big impact on cash flow. Constantly challenged to compete with bigger and cheaper competitor prices in the market.
October 2025 Highlights
- Finalist for the 2026 Woman of Stature Awards.
- Won the IWISA No1 Community Champion competition.
- Finalist in the Goodhope FM Warrior Women Awards.
October 2025 Challenges
Producing products for a customer without taking a deposit and the customer is not able to pay on collection — putting a strain on cash flow and having to work out a payment plan.
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