Joel Khoela is proving that with passion, determination and a needle and thread, young entrepreneurs can build thriving businesses even with limited resources and turn them into big ventures.
North West, South Africa (17 July 2025) – Stitch by stitch and thread by thread. What began as a simple passion for sewing has turned into a thriving business venture for North-West University (NWU) postgraduate student Joel Malesela Khoela.
From a student room on the Mahikeng Campus, Joel has been steadily building Joel Stitch by Stitch TA Patrao (Pty) Ltd, a tailoring company now trusted with large-scale orders, including one that has future nurses literally wearing his work.
Joel recently completed a significant commission from NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences. He crafted 166 scrub tops, 166 pairs of trousers, 83 fleece jackets, 83 puffer jackets, and 166 pairs of socks for first-year nursing students. The scale of the project is impressive, but the fact that it was all completed from a small student room makes it even more remarkable.
“Working on this project for the university is big,” Joel says. “Also, being here is an opportunity on its own. Being at the NWU made me find myself and my business.”
His journey into tailoring began in 2019, when he started sewing by hand. A year later, he purchased his first sewing machine, and things began to pick up. Over time, he expanded his operation, eventually building a small and capable team of nine assistants who now help him.
Handling such a large order while managing studies and operating from a tight space was not easy. Joel admits it came with its fair share of challenges, like deadlines, pressure, and lack of space being among the top.
“I had to push myself,” he reflects. “But seeing the final results, knowing I delivered quality work, that’s the reward.”
For Joel, the nursing attire order is more than just a contract; it is a marker of how far he has come as both a student and a business owner. It is also proof that ambition and resourcefulness can take you far, no matter your starting point.
He sees Joel Stitch by Stitch as more than a clothing brand. It is a statement about possibility.
“It’s not just about making clothing,” he explains. “It shows that young people can build something, even from limited resources.”
by 