Diina Engelbert is a Namibian-born fashion designer and CEO of Sparkle Couture. In addition to designing clothes, Diina is an entrepreneur coach, and alumni of She Rebuilds the World (SRW). In this inspiring interview, she shares the story of her transformation from farming mahangu to hand-making beautiful clothes. With the influence of her Oshiwambo culture, Diina’s designs are deeply rooted in confidence, peace, and boldness.
Where were you born and raised? Can you describe the community and culture?
I was born and raised in Oshakati, Namibia. I grew up in Oshiwambo culture, it’s a traditional community. We have many fields and growing up we used to grow and plow mahangu. This is the main thing that people do in the north. Now it is developing, but when we were young, everything we produced we did by hand without machines. We plowed using a donkey and even with graining, we did it all by hand. It was a lot of work, but the community is welcoming. Growing up, the community was like one house. If you find a neighbor’s child doing something wrong, you are welcome to discipline them. You can’t say “This is not my child, so I’m not going to talk to them about what they did.” It is people of great responsibility, the people know that they belong together.
Were you interested in fashion while growing up?
I was not, I had no idea. We have palm trees and then they grow palm trees. They have the shape of an eight- one side is like a head and then the other the bottom. When they are dry, we call them babies. I loved dressing them, actually, but I never looked at it like that.
Even in my primary or secondary grades when someone asked what I wanted to do when I was older, I would say a doctor. Eventually, in high school, I wanted to be a nurse. That didn’t work out and I found myself in fashion. So growing up, I never had an idea that I would be in fashion. In fact, I didn’t know there was something like that.
How did you start getting into fashion?
After completing grade 12, I didn’t have the scores for nursing, and so I went on to improve. In improving, I kept telling my aunt that I wanted to do nursing. I applied and they accepted me, but it was not at the most famous university. It was a college that was still developing, and my aunt was not a fan of the institution so she suggested something else. In grade 12, we headed to a vocational institution called the National Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT). My aunt would always advise me that I apply to the NIMT to become an electrician, but that was not what I wanted to do. I decided, you know what, I would apply to fashion which was called clothing production. So that became my first choice and my second as an electrician which is what my aunt wanted for me. I got admitted to fashion or clothing production, and I went. The administration was also suggesting that I should change, but I never asked to when I went to register. That is how I found myself doing fashion.
Do you make all of your clothes by hand?
Most of them, yes, except jeans. I make most of my clothes except in pants, or blazers, I buy them.
Do you think that the skills you gained growing up working in the fields helped you with creating clothes?
Yes, absolutely. I would say it really helped me. Also, I am not just doing it for money, I am really passionate about it. I am doing something that I love, and that is the thing that humbles me to say yes.
Who would you say is your greatest mentor or inspiration?
I would say my aunt, she raised me. Regardless of not choosing what she wanted me to do, she still supported me and would say she is still my fan. This woman is my biggest fan. I would always brag about her and how far I have come because I have grown with her support. She was my first-ever client. She would come through for anything and she enjoys wearing the things that I do.
Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or project that you created?
Yes. After completing clothing production at NIMT, I went on to proceed to the University of Namibia. I was still doing fashion, but I became a fashion teacher. In our third year, we were asked to watch the movie the Marvel movie Black Panther and look for inspiration. We had to choose a character from the movie and then put it in the culture that best describes us so I decided to make a dress.
I am from Oshiwambo culture, so I made a great dress inspired by it. Out of the movie, I chose the character Okoye. Okoye was a lady meant to protect the Wakanda kingdom and then her husband separated for another kingdom. Okoye was honest to her kingdom and upheld her swear to protect the Wakandan kingdom so she was ready to fight her husband. What I saw in her was a fierce, fearless woman who can stand regardless of what she has sworn to do. I made the dress to resemble a lion. A lion, no matter how hungry, doesn’t eat the meat of an animal that they didn’t kill. It shows how I have chosen to pursue fashion, and I will stand by it. It really gives peace, it gives boldness. It gives energy- just everything. It is my favorite art and piece of clothing I have made.
What is your advice on finding your style?
I would say confidence. Be sure of what you want. Because when you are not wearing your confidence, then you are not wearing anything. What I say is not to impress, but for people to be comfortable. Confidence is the most important part of style.
