We recently connected with Tamburai Chirume and have shared our conversation below.

Tamburai , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa at the age of five. Both my parents were entrepreneurs, building their businesses in a new country during a very complex time. My mother was a fashion designer, and my father ran a travel agency raising young children while navigating life as immigrants could not have been easy.

What they were very intentional about which I feel they did right, was ensuring that I never lost my roots. That started with language firstly we spoke English at home and my home language at home and continued with returning to Zimbabwe every school holiday. Because of that, I didn’t just grow up knowing where I come from, I experienced it. I was surrounded by the creativity, culture, and way of life that now deeply informs our work.

I also grew up watching how my parents did business, how they treated people, how they built trust, and how much pride they took in what they offered. To this day, I can see how much of that I have carried into my own journey.

If I’m honest, a lot of what I’ve been able to build is because of what they got right.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tamburai Chirume, and I am the co-founder of ONEOFEACH, a mother-and-daughter design brand rooted in African craftsmanship.

I often say I was born an entrepreneur. My grandmother, whom I am named after, was a serial entrepreneur in rural Zimbabwe, and I believe that spirit of creating, building, and finding opportunity is part of my lineage. I was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, and from a young age, I was surrounded by creativity through my mother, who is a designer and now my co-founder. I grew up understanding that there are real possibilities within the creative industries, and I’ve always been driven to challenge the idea of the “struggling artist.”

After university, I opened a coffee shop, which I consider my first business failure. That experience taught me resilience and forced me to think more seriously about sustainability in business. I then worked in a financial institution in trusts and investments, gaining structure and discipline in how I approach business today. During that time, I was also working as a freelance stylist, collaborating with photographers and contributing to publications such as Elle Bulgaria, which kept me connected to the creative world.

Eventually, I returned fully to what felt most natural building something of my own and co-founded ONEOFEACH with my mother Pauline Munemo.

ONEOFEACH creates one-of-a-kind handcrafted handbags and lifestyle pieces using techniques such as beadwork, embroidery, and the repurposing of materials like leather off-cuts. No two pieces are ever the same with regards to our embellished collection. Our work is slow and intentional, preserving traditional craftsmanship while presenting it in a contemporary, globally relevant way.

Alongside the brand, I co-founded The African Academy of Fashion (TAAF), a non-profit that trains young people, particularly women, in fashion craftsmanship and workplace readiness. Through this, we are not only creating products but also building pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.

What sets us apart is the depth behind what we create. Each piece carries a story, a process, and a connection to community. In a world driven by fast production and trends, we offer something more considered work that invites people to slow down and invest in something meaningful.

I’m most proud of building a brand that exists at the intersection of craftsmanship, business, and impact. From being stocked in institutions such as the British Museum and the George Washington University Textile Museum store, to expanding into getting an opportunity with the incredible Seattle Restored program, we have remained committed to our values while growing.

At its core, ONEOFEACH is not just about products. It is about preserving knowledge, celebrating individuality, and proving that creativity when rooted in intention and supported by the right systems can be both meaningful and commercially viable

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what really helped me build a strong reputation is intentionally challenging the idea that creative people are unreliable in business.

Having worked in a corporate environment within banking, I was exposed to systems, discipline, and structure. I made a conscious decision to bring that into my own business. At the end of the day, a bank is also a business built by people so there was no reason those systems couldn’t be applied to a creative brand.

From the beginning, I focused on a few key principles: delivering on time, maintaining a high standard of quality, and showing up consistently regardless of challenges. That consistency builds trust over time.

Another important factor has been understanding that people may forget what you sell, but they will always remember how you made them feel. Because of that, relationship-building sits at the core of what we do. As a co-founder, I spend a significant amount of my time engaging with clients, having real conversations, and building genuine connections.

That combination structure, consistency, and strong relationships is what has shaped our reputation. And once that trust is established, word travels. The world is smaller than we think, and how you show up always finds its way back to you.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn the need to be accepted everywhere.

Over time, I’ve realized that not every space is meant for you and that’s okay. What matters is finding your people, your community, and building from there. Those are the people who truly see and value what you do, and they will show up for you in ways that matter.

Gatekeeping will always exist, in every industry. But I’ve learned to stay level-headed and not take it personally. Instead of chasing every opportunity, I focus on doing the work, building relationships, and trusting the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oneofeach.co.za
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneofeach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneofeachsa
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamburai-chirume-a3a36122/
• Other: https://seattlerestored.org/locations/one-of-each/

Image Credits

Kirsti Nagel
Checks Media Production
Claire Gunn