There’s a quiet joy in watching a Ri.Ch Aunty blossom through the years—especially when she’s been collecting our pieces like little love notes to herself. One of our day ones, Mphumi, has been doing just that.
From wearing the Kitwe dress to a work event in 2018, to graduating in the Lukanga set, her style journey has become a story of bold choices, deep memories, and sacred self-expression. Recently, she did something that made me gasp (the good kind): she paired the Lamu Tamu skirt with the Lukanga crop top—and somehow, it felt like jazz. Wild. Thoughtful. Iconic.
The best Ri.Ch Aunties don’t just wear the clothes, they make the rules.
Below, Mphumi answers a few questions about her journey as a collector, a remix queen, and a woman who wears meaning.
With love from my wardrobe to yours,
Ri.Ch Aunty
5 Questions with Mphumi: A Ri.Ch Aunty Collector
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You’ve been collecting Ri.Ch Factory pieces for years. What was your first piece?
If my memory serves me correctly, it was the green and blue Kitwe dress with a matching doek, bought in 2018 for a work function that was themed “a touch of green.”
2. Your style remix with the Lamu Tamu skirt and Lukanga crop top was iconic. How do you approach mixing prints and colours when styling yourself?
I was initially scared of mixing prints, thinking it would be “too much.” But I grew more inspired and confident as I engaged with your Instagram page and started collecting and experimenting with different prints.
I also realised I couldn’t be an introvert and wear dull clothing. The way you showcased that prints aren’t just for traditional weddings but for everyday wear made the process easier for me.
It really depends on how I feel at the time and the look I want to achieve. There was something classy and sexy about that combination, and I thought, why not?
3. What’s your all-time favourite Ri.Ch piece, and what memory do you associate with it?
I’ll give you my top 3—no particular order:
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The green Goddess dress, which I wore for my 39th birthday in 2023.
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The iconic 2019 Kariba skirt, which I wore for my pregnancy shoot in 2021 when I was expecting my son.
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The Lukanga set, which I wore in 2022 when I graduated with my MBA. I chose it to honour the journey of studying during Covid, being pregnant during lockdown, the KZN looting, and searching for baby items while preparing to give birth in July 2021. That same year, I also lost my sister and grandmother a few months apart. Wearing that set helped me feel more like myself again after a long time.
Having written all of this… I’ll say it’s the Lukanga set, because of everything it represents. I wasn’t planning to choose a “winner,” but there it is.
4. How does wearing print—and African print in particular—make you feel?
I feel like the Queen and Goddess that I am. I feel like I can do anything.
5. What advice would you give to someone who’s still figuring out how to express themselves through fashion?
Be brave, and don’t be afraid to stand out. Sometimes, you might be the only “overdressed” person at a function or event—just own it. Most importantly, be yourself. Whatever item you choose should capture the essence of who you are.
Want to be featured?
Are you a Ri.Ch Aunty with stories stitched into your clothes? We’d love to hear from you. Tag us in your looks or drop us a DM on Instagram. You just might be next.