“Being a Black woman is such a gift. We carry layers of depth, creativity, and passion that naturally flow into how we create and how we see the world.”
There’s something irresistible about a woman who wears her creativity like second skin, and Bonolo Mashilo is exactly that.
From the time she was little, she knew fashion would always be her language. “I’ve always had a natural creative edge. Everything I did growing up carried a little extra flair. My grandmother played a huge role in this; she used to dress me in beautiful, dramatic dresses for church, and I fell in love with the feeling of self-expression through fashion. In my teen and young adult years, I experimented with bold choices like blue hair, constantly finding new ways to embody creativity. Fashion became my language, and I am proud that I now get to fully live out that expression through design,” said designer and owner of B.Mashilo designs.
Today, that language has grown into a brand that dresses women for their milestones, weaving confidence, beauty and empowerment into every garment.
What makes Bonolo even more magnetic is how her identity and culture pulses through her work.
“Being a Black woman is such a gift. We carry layers of depth, creativity, and passion that naturally flow into how we create and how we see the world. My identity reminds me that design is not just about clothes, but about telling stories of resilience, beauty and innovation through fabric.”
Her Ntwane roots, located in Limpopo’s Dennilton, also shine bright in her creative lens.
“Our cultures as Black South Africans are bold and expressive. They make statements without saying a word. (where I’m from), our cultural attire is vibrant, with bright colours and intricate details that carry history and meaning. I’m extremely proud of where I come from, and I foreground this diversity in my work.
Her use of colour, her unapologetic silhouettes, and her ability to reimagine tradition for the modern woman who wants it all.
Of course, the fashion industry isn’t without its challenges, especially for Black women.
But Bonolo has no intention of playing small.
“For years, the beauty and diversity of Black women’s bodies have been overlooked in mainstream fashion, unless they happened to fit a fleeting trend. I’m deeply passionate about designing with our bodies in mind, celebrating every curves and shapes, and showing that beauty does not have to conform to Western standards.
“The challenge is overcoming the legacy of exclusion, but we get to reclaim that space and rewrite the standards of beauty and fashion from our own perspective.”
It’s this passion that makes her designs stand out, her clothes always meeting her clients at the intersection of elegance and empowerment.
But she also knows the power of balance. “Working in a customer-centric field means that my clients’ desires, needs, and comfort always come first. However, they trust me because of my vision and the quality of my work, they come to me for a reason. Often, we find a sweet spot where my aesthetic and creativity meet their personal style and expectations. Sometimes that requires gently pushing boundaries, but it usually leads to a result that delights them and remains true to my brand ethos.”
When asked about her career highlights, her pride is palpable.
“There are two achievements that stand out deeply for me. The first is on the business side: being able to employ people. Salaries don’t just pay bills. They feed families, take children to school, and restore dignity to homes. Knowing that my work creates opportunities for others fills me with pride.
“The second is a creative milestone: showcasing for L’Oréal Paris. That moment was a powerful confirmation of purpose. It is a reminder that the journey of this brand is still unfolding and that there are no limits to what we can achieve. It affirmed that fashion, when done with intention, can place you on stages you once only dreamed of.”
Still, Bonolo doesn’t bend easily to trends. “The brand has an established voice. Even though it’s still growing, you can often look at a garment and immediately tell that it’s a BMashilo piece. We like to stay true to that voice and to our vision of bringing dignity through fashion. At the same time, we don’t just follow trends. We aim to lead them. We enjoy making bold statements with our clothes, creating designs that feel both relevant and timeless, while remaining authentic to who we are as a brand.”
When asked about icons, her answer is simple but striking. “My inspiration comes from home, my parents have always been a great point of reference for me, outside of that, I’m always in competition with the designer I was yesterday. The aim is to constantly be a better version of her.”
A woman wrapped in BMashilo is wrapped in herself—her power, her confidence, her story – “effortlessly gorgeous, diverse and timeless! Mosadi ke roko ya Bmashilodesigns.”
“Fashion is my calling, my purpose and my gift to the world. I always say, when I leave this world one day, I want to have exhausted everything I know about fashion in me.” That mission is stitched into every dress, gown, and set she creates. Her priority? Women. “It’s at the heart of everything I do. We create garments that become part of women’s biggest milestones—a wedding, a graduation, or another once-in-a-lifetime moment. People come to us because they want to feel confident, radiant, and celebrated. Years from now, when they look back at the pictures or recall that day, what they wore will always be part of the memory. Knowing that our work helps women step into those moments feeling their absolute best is one of the greatest honours of this craft.”
And yes, for everyone dying to know, something new is coming. “Yes yes and yes! We’re dropping our woven collection to finish off winter with a bang. This collection is simple, sporty and can be styled in multiple diverse ways, wear it up or down, whichever way speaks to you! I’m excited as this is our first time tapping into relaxed lounge wear and knitwear. We can’t wait for the world to see it!”
Bonolo leaves us with the kind of mantra every woman should hold close: “May you never stop believing in the beauty of your dreams, be fearless!” A village girl from Ntwane who dreamed in colour and now stitches those dreams into fabric—we’re here for every thread.
