Tino Muguti fell in love with fashion at the tender age of 9, and her passion for becoming one of the renowned and established names in the industry began to take shape early on. She is the founder of St. Ignatius Atelier, a haute couture and high-end ready-to-wear fashion brand that has remained strong since its inception in 2022.

“At that time, I would always see my father wearing suits to work, and I admired how clean and well put together he was,” Tino shared.

Her fashion and tailoring skills were nurtured by her mother, and from that young age, Tino never looked at fabric the same way again—it became an essential part of her life.

“I had to learn to sew from my mother. Ever since I was 9, I would look for fabric, cut it up, and make something unique to wear. Of course, that caused a lot of problems because the fabric I was cutting up would often be someone’s shirt, skirt, or even a dress,”

St. Ignatius Atelier recently showcased its collection during the Zim Afro T10 fashion show, marking the brand’s first public appearance at such a prestigious event. The collection featured classic designs, including double-breasted suits for men and A-line dresses.

According to Tino, showcasing at the Zim Afro T10 was a homage to the fundamental patterns that create every garment ever made.

“The collection celebrates men and women of all shapes and sizes, ultimately boosting self-image and confidence. The key piece from my collection would be look 25,”

The collection was modeled by some of Zimbabwe’s top models, including Mr. Zimbabwe winner Hillary Mandaba, Aaron Kahari, Coresh Dumba, Takudzwa Machingura, Tinashe Zakeyo, and Byron Mulinga.

Muguti also revealed that she is currently working on expanding her brand internationally. One of her first steps toward achieving this is through a partnership with Mister Africa International Zimbabwe delegate Future Nyoni, who will represent Zimbabwe in Sierra Leone. Nyoni will be dressed by St. Ignatius Atelier.

“It is imperative that Zimbabwean creatives support our culture leaders and ambassadors who are raising our flag high on international platforms. It’s our duty to ensure they represent us proudly, looking and feeling their best,” she emphasized.