A designer making a difference for the visually impaired

Balini Naidoo-Engelbrecht is positively impacting sight-impaired South Africans with her innovative, braille-friendly fashion range. We chatted with her about conscious creativity and her drive to make a difference.

My dad was in construction and we moved all over the place when I was growing up,’ explains Durban-born Balini (29). ‘Where big construction projects were, my mom, younger brother and I went.’ Sadly, Balini’s brother passed away in 2017, and this loss, coupled with frequent relocation, meant that change and uncertainty defined much of her early life.

The one constant, however, was an innate creativity and sensitivity to her surroundings. ‘I was always a very creative child,’ Balini elaborates. ‘I also drew inspiration from my surroundings because my environment was ever-changing and so were the people in it,’ she continues. In fact, it was this exposure to people from a diverse range of backgrounds that Balini believes significantly shaped her future.

A CALLING TO CREATE
After school, Balini dabbled in a foundation course in design, followed by various creative jobs, before enrolling in a Fashion and Textiles degree at Durban University of Technology in 2014. ‘A few years later, I possessed a cum laude bachelor’s degree and an innovative idea that could impact many people,’ she shares. Balini has also garnered a number of accolades as a designer, including placing in the top 10 of a 2015 Society of Dyers and Colourists competition, featuring in the top 25 at the 2016 Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Awards and showcasing at the 2018 Design Indaba. She was also nominated as an innovator by the Southern African Development Community in 2018 and made a goalkeeper for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2019.

“I designed a system for the blind to assist them in becoming more independent when choosing clothes”

INSPIRATION BREEDS INNOVATION
Balini points out that, according to the South African National Council for the blind, 32% of South Africans live with a sight disability. When her uncle started losing his eyesight, she noticed the difficulty he faced. ‘Having a visually-impaired family member made me realise the struggles faced by the unsighted,’ she continues, from the lack of options to difficulty choosing clothes. 

‘So, I designed a system for the blind to assist them in becoming more self-reliant and independent when choosing clothes.’ Balini’s braille designs help the visually impaired identify the colour, size, care instructions and style description of each garment. ‘The braille is actually screen printed with puff paint onto the back of each garment and is visible for everyone to see’, explains Balini. ‘Every item is manufactured from start to finish by myself – including application of the braille graphics. The response to my line has been overwhelming and I recently opened my own business called Balini Pty Ltd with my label, balini™, also creating custom garments such as wedding dresses, matric dance dresses and occasionwear.’

FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE
With a blossoming business and her first child on the way with her husband of two years, Brend, Balini’s eye is firmly focused on the future. Impending motherhood has prompted her to explore a children’s clothing range and she continues to grow her brand, inspiring others in the process. Currently living in Saldanha Bay, she is also deeply committed to uplifting the youth in her community, through training and skills development.