Local marketing student Britney Mai Lai juggles being a full-time student all while growing her small handmade hair accessories business.

The 22-year-old, who is currently on track to obtain her corporate communications degree at the IIE’s Varisty College Sandton campus, turned her passion for sewing and hair into a small business called Silk Threads.

According to Mai Lai, growing up she was always taught that her hair was a big part of her identity, regardless of the negative perceptions around curly hair.

“I only recently started taking a huge liking to wear my curly hair proudly and that is with thanks to people that have fought and made it comfortable for a lot of us to do so.”

She added that through learning more about her hair, she struggled to find accessories and products that would be beneficial to curly hair – thus the birth of Silk Threads in 2021.

“This was when I decided that I would use my sewing skills to create the perfect hair product for all hair types and I wanted to share it with others through Silk Threads while earning an income as a student.”

With an R300 investment from her father, the young entrepreneur slowly grew her business over the last year, reinvesting every single cent back into the business all while working toward her degree.

Today Silk Threads offers an array of satin hair scrunchies, bonnets, durags and pillowcases.

“Seeing the products that I have handmade give my clients the benefits that they deserve and receiving positive feedback from them motivates me to continue working hard.”

Mai Lai added that while this has been a rewarding journey of constant learning, she had to make many sacrifices along the way.

“Both being a small business owner and full-time student comes with deadlines so spreading out due dates, and planning when to complete assignments and tasks have become a huge part of my life.

“Studying the degree I am in gives me a lot of perspective as well as insights I am able to apply to Silk Threads. Whenever I get a gap to sew, I sew in bulk so that I always have stock for when orders come in.”

Shop Silk Threads online on www.moksi.co.za or stay up to date with the brand on Instagram.

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