Sewing face masks at her kitchen table throughout lockdown, Tendai Murairwa never imagined that four years later she’d be stood next to Spice Girl, Mel B on national television.

Yet, in September this year that's exactly where she found herself - on ITV’s fashion show – M&S: Dress the Nation. Tendai went on to win the very first challenge which asked the contestants to create bold standout womenswear designs.

The challenge was right in Tendai's comfort zone. Since arriving in Yorkshire her trademark look has the bold colours reflecting her heritage.

The 44-year-old mother of three currently lives in Doncaster and has spent the past 20 years in Yorkshire after coming here from Zimbabwe.

And it is the people of Yorkshire she credits for where she is today.

‘Having come from Zimbabwe to Yorkshire, I used to struggle wearing bold prints, because nobody was doing that – people were in plain colours – but then everyone would comment saying how nice they were. So, when I started making clothing people were really interested in what I was wearing, so it made me want to make more and they encouraged and inspired me’, she says.

Fusing together her African and Yorkshire heritage through both her clothes and identity is something Tendai feels passionately about: ‘When people ask where I’m from I say I’m a Zimbabwe Yorkshire woman because I can’t just be one, I am both.’

Tendai's designs have graced the catwalks of York Fashion Week twice.   (Image: Cedar Cottage Creative) Even though Yorkshire folk inspire her through their enthusiasm for her designs, it’s her Zimbabwean heritage that runs through the core of her clothing with one rule: ‘they have to be very bold in print, so I use African print for that reason,’ Tendai explains. ‘Even if the style is simple, the fabric speaks for itself.’

‘Bold prints have that way of making us feel better than we do, you know, life is depressing enough as it is!’

Not only does Tendai believe in our clothes' ability to enhance our mood, but she is passionate about how fashion can break down barriers: ‘Clothing is one of those things where we could both be on the same level – I could sit with someone who’s so rich and we can both interact – it’s a language in itself. It’s universal.’

Speaking of the transformative power of clothes, Tendai’s appearance on ITV’s M&S: Dress the Nation has been making waves back in Zimbabwe and inspiring a generation. ‘Representation really matters,’ explains Tendai. ‘Where I come from there is no one I can look up to who has done well, so I’m getting messages from women with girls saying oh my god we saw you and my daughter really wants to follow in your footsteps! Which is just crazy. I look back at the 15 year old me who would want to be where I am now, but wouldn’t know where to start and who to go to and how is it even possible, but here I am doing it in my 40s.’

Bright, bold and beautiful, Tendai's designs are eyecatching and evocative. Bright, bold and beautiful, Tendai's designs are eyecatching and evocative. (Image: Cedar Cottage Creative) It's self-belief that Tendai wants to instil in more people as it’s been something she’s had to overcome herself. Speaking of her involvement as an ambassador and designer for York Fashion Week, which she’s taken part in twice, she enthuses: ‘it was incredible, it was one of those biggest things I’ve ever done, from sewing in my kitchen to be asked to sew something to go on a runway that was amazing!’ But it’s a place she never thought she’d be as she believed that ‘things like London fashion week, Milan etc, I always thought they are possible to other people – not me. I never imagined. When it happened to me it was like oh my god! It gave me the drive to go on bigger platforms. I could conquer the fashion world!’

Indeed, this gave Tendai the confidence to apply to go onto ITV’s M&S: Dress the Nation which she says has been truly amazing: ‘I woke up to so many incredible messages after the first show . . . Thousands and thousands of people applied to be on the show, so even just being on there was winning for me.’

Tendai very much hopes this will encourage more people to believe in themselves and follow their dreams, stating that you never know where it might get you.

Instagram: @withtee_

You can catch up on the show on ITV X