Emilie Shimbali

The most common feedback Julia Naapopye gets from women on social media is: “I’m hot like a heater, like a bomb”. 

They say so of the warm, colourful and gorgeous knitted bikinis and crotchet trousers she made.

Naapopye’s knitting talent is most certainly redefining the traditional grandmother craft, giving it a trendy fashion twist. 

The 24-year-old from the Oshipaya village in the Omusati region mastered knitting and crocheting during her school years. 

She was not serious about it until after graduating from the Namibia Institute of Mine and Technology (Nimt) when a world of unemployment greeted her. Naapopye, however, did not sit back with a cup of tea waiting for jobs, she turned that fictional cup of tea into a serious business.

“Yes, the world of unemployment is real and it hurts, but I don’t have to stay at home doing nothing while I look for work,” she told VIBEZ!

“My elder sister taught me this first, but my passion took root when I was introduced to the subject of home economics, where I learned the art of design. Earlier this year, I felt compelled to return to my passion,” explained Naapopye.

The L3 certificate holder in general plumbing and sheet metalwork stated that knitting has given her a lot of hope, and the business is doing well.

Dubbed the ‘Knotty Knitter’ by this writer, Naapopye uses the money from her knit pieces to make more copies of her CV to apply for jobs and to courier it to other towns.

“Those with certificates; don’t just sit around waiting for jobs that are related to what you studied. There is nothing new under the sun. If you want to do business, try, because someone out there is willing to support you, but only if you try.”

Naapopye makes a variety of other products such as mattresses made of wool and summer costumes in customer-selected designs.

“I never disappoint.”

Follow her on Instagram at j-n-ketu or call her at 0817676816.

- emilienashea9@gmail.com