Stitched Together by Strangers, Immanuel’s Fashion Design Dream is Closer Now Than Ever
Good Things Guy | 19.02.2026 21:00
It all started at a traffic light with a proud father, a denim skirt made of scraps, and a young man’s dream that a whole community decided was too big to let fade.
Johannesburg, South Africa (19 February 2026) – Back in 2023, Good Things Guy shared a most touching story about the chance encounter between Lucky Masango and Lana Brunner.
On one bitterly cold winter morning in Centurion, Lara noticed Lucky standing at a traffic light in Rooihuiskraal, holding up a single up-cycled denim skirt, trying to catch the attention of passing motorists.
“I pulled over and asked him about it. He told me the skirt had been made by his son, Immanuel, who dreamed of studying fashion. He wasn’t asking for charity in the usual sense. He was hoping someone might see the work, recognise the talent, and help in some small way,” Lana shares with us.
And thanks to that conversation and a social media post that spread rapidly, an outpour of support from the public ensured Lucky’s son, Nkosinathi Immanuel Moyo, stepped into his dream.
Immanuel grew up in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, the fourth of nine children in a household shaped by unemployment and survival grants. From Grade 9, he taught himself to sew using YouTube tutorials, a needle and thread, and whatever scraps of fabric he could find.
The support raised in 2023 allowed Immanuel to begin his studies at STADIO. Shortly thereafter, Alicia and her company (CiMS) stepped forward and generously covered his full tuition for his first two years. During this time, Immanuel paid for accommodation, food, and materials by selling his own designs at fashion markets in Pretoria.
“Fashion is the one thing that has always been around me since birth. Things weren’t easy growing up, and for a while, I thought fashion was only for rich people because it was all about glamour and beauty. But seeing my mother make the three dresses she owned look different and beautiful made me realise that you can create something from nothing. Being around her built a love for creativity in me,” Immanuel shares with us.
In college, Immanuel didn’t simply attend classes and pass modules. He became part of the life of the campus. He showed up for others. He earned trust. Over time, he was elected Student President – a position that speaks to character, consistency, and leadership rather than circumstance. It’s a role he carries with humility and a strong sense of responsibility.
He says the public support he received to get him where he is today brought him to tears then and still leaves him emotional to this day.
“At some point, I felt like I was outgrowing my dream. Lara worked so hard to get me into school. I cried for almost two days. It was even hard for me to communicate with the people around me. I really came to see that it’s not over until God says so. I’ve witnessed the love of the people of SA and outside the country – they have carried me,” a grateful Immanuel says.
Unfortunately, due to financial hardship, Alicia’s company is no longer able to sponsor Immanuel’s final year. He is now in the third and final year of his qualification, closer than he has ever been to completing what he began. And once again facing a funding gap that is beyond his control.
For Immanuel, obtaining his degree would be so much more than a piece of paper that promises opportunity, but proof that nothing is impossible for a boy from rural South Africa.
His vision for the future is rooted in creating work that honours culture and opens doors for other young designers who come from limited means. Helping him graduate isn’t about one individual alone. It’s about finishing something South Africans began together.
To help this young creative reach the graduation stage with his fashion degree in hand, consider leaving a donation here.
