Thulani Sibanyoni Interview: Founder of Ndalo Jewellery
Thulani Sibanyoni Interview: Founder of Ndalo Jewellery. Thulani Sibanyoni, founder of Ndalo Jewellery, is a skilled jeweller from the East Rand whose journey blends craftsmanship and discipline. After studying Jewellery Design and Manufacturing at the University of Johannesburg and completing his Goldsmith trade at Imfundiso Skills Development, he honed his craft further during an incubation at Rand Refinery. Established in 2017 and registered in 2020, Ndalo Jewellery specializes in creating unique, timeless, high-end, and commercial pieces. Known for his humility, goal-driven mindset, and attention to detail, Sibanyoni takes pride in delivering jewellery that reflects precision and purpose. We took some time to have a conversation with Thulani about his experience with The Jewellery Village and the journery of building Ndalo Jewellery. Check it out below!
How did it feel launching your first collection at The Jewellery Village?
Launching my 1st collection felt very good because it gave me an opportunity to let people see my artistry and it allowed me to get feedback from the buyers of my collection and I understood what clients needed from me and where to improve interm of design and the quality of the product I design for them.
What inspired you to take the leap from online sales to retail?
It is because in a retail store we get to have direct customer interaction which allows me to gather valuable feedback, also to understand customers preference and it gives me a chance to build a relationship with a client which leads to brand loyalty.
Who are your biggest design inspirations and why?
Ben & Co. are my biggest design inspiration it is because the quality of their products are inspired by nature and they are simple and elegant.
How do you incorporate South African culture into your collections?
As Ndalo Jewellery we incorporate south african culture through our unique traditional designs of nature and the sourcing of our materials and we design pieces that are imbued with a narrative that reflects our cultural history and value.
How has the Rand Refinery mentorship influenced your business acumen?
The program has helped us with hands -on training in jewellery design and manufacturing of our ranges which is practical experience also with the industry insight like having mentors and giving us essential skills for succeeding in the competitive jewellery market.
What challenges do emerging jewellers face when entering the market?
The challenges we have faced as we were entering the market was access to retail stores and having our own unique ranges that tell our stories and to brand our-self so we are different and unique from other jewellery businesses.
What makes your brand stand out in today’s competitive space?
Our brand stands out because our products are carefully handcraftedwith attention to detail and each and every piece tells its story reflecting our South African heritage and history and we make unique floral nature designs with traditional modernity with material that is locally sourced.
What advice would you give to jewellery design students starting out?
The advice I would give to the student is to design something that is meaningful to them and to build trust with their clients.
How do you balance artistry and entrepreneurship?
We balance the two by scheduling creative time that allows us to focus on design and craftsmanship, delegating some of the work to our students at Ejp and staying true to our artistry vision which means that we ensure that business decisions align with our unique brand identity.
What do you hope people remember about Ndalo Jewellery?
We hope people remember us by our unique nature’s touch designs that tells our south african story and timeless jewellery products give them.
