COHORT 2025–2026 · CATALYST PROGRAM

Meet the
Alumni

Where raw talent meets structure, mentorship, and real opportunity. Our inaugural cohort represents the future of luxury fashion.

3
graduates
SS26
Collection Opportunity
3K+
grants awarded

About the Program

Closing the Gap Between
Creativity & Infrastructure

The Pink Maison Catalyst Program was designed to close a critical gap where creativity exists, but infrastructure does not. Too many designers are left navigating an industry that rewards proximity, knowledge, and capital, yet offers limited access to all three. We changed that.

Mentorship

Direct access to industry professionals who foster open communication and provide practical, grounded wisdom.

Structure

A disciplined framework that moves designers beyond ideation into refined, market-ready brand building.

Opportunity

$1,000 grants, SS26–27 collection opportunities with U.S. luxury boutiques, and lifelong community.

Class of 2026

Alumni Directory

Tadiwanashe Karen Kaparipari
Tadiwanashe Karen Kaparipari
Founder and Creative Director
Class of 2026

"I leave equipped with the tools, resources, and confidence..."

Tanaka Vengere
Tanaka Vengere
Multidisciplinary Fashion Designer
Class of 2026

"Today I stand with a feeling of being more confident..."

Vanisha Ramjee
Vanisha Ramjee
Crochet Designer & Textile Innovator
Class of 2026

"A member of Pink Maison Catalyst's inaugural cohort..."

Tadiwanashe Karen Kaparipari

Founder and Creative Director · Class of 2026

Tadiwanashe Karen Kaparipari — Founder and Creative Director, TADI WANASHE Rooted in faith and inspired by the breadth of artistic expression, TADI wa NASHE is guided by curiosity, bold experimentation, and the beauty of imperfection. Through intentional craftsmanship, Tadiwanashe creates collections that interrogate identity, purpose, and spiritual
"This Catalyst Program provided invaluable access to industry professionals who fostered open communication, creating space for us to ask questions, gain insight, and navigate the business of fashion with greater confidence. Our facilitator, Rose, was exceptionally attentive, offering depth of knowledge and wisdom that was both practical and spiritually grounded. The program cultivated a safe environment where we could be honest and vulnerable about our challenges as emerging designers, while still being guided toward growth and excellence. Each session encouraged us to reassess and refine our brands, resulting in clearer, more intentional visions for our businesses. As I conclude this journey, I leave equipped with the tools, resources, and confidence needed to pursue sustainable growth within the industry."

Tanaka Vengere

Multidisciplinary Fashion Designer · Class of 2026

Tanaka Magirazi Vengere — Multidisciplinary Fashion Designer Working between Harare and Johannesburg, Tanaka approaches fashion as a vessel for storytelling and cultural preservation. His multidisciplinary perspective merges craftsmanship, transformation, and Afrocentric identity to produce garments that communicate narrative as power. Tanaka’s work expands the dialogue surrounding African design, positioning it within contemporary global conversation.
"This accelerator program came to me at a point in my life when I was in some turmoil over what next steps to take in my career. Being selected to participate as part of the first ever cohort offered a light for me — the validation that my talent and skills were worth noticing and taking a chance on. Today I stand with a feeling of being more confident in pursuing my design work, in a slow and steady manner, but definitely forwards, supported by a team of people who are also compassionate towards the challenges that a small startup brand faces. I am hopeful that the next steps in this process will yield fruit and stand as a testimony to other creatives of colour. This is only the beginning for me."

Vanisha Ramjee

Crochet Designer & Textile Innovator · Class of 2026

Vanisha — Crochet Designer & Textile Innovator Born in Zimbabwe and trained in Fine Art and Film & Media at the University of Cape Town, Vanisha’s work challenges long-held perceptions of crochet as traditional craft. Since 2018, she has developed a tactile design language centered on texture, structure, and form. Her pieces, hand-built from thread and intention, celebrate individuality and inclusivity across body types and personal expression.
"So grateful and honoured to have been part of this program. It shed light on things that were forever on my to-do list but I was honestly just tapping the surface. This program gave me the in-depth view and connected resources I should use, how prepared I should be, showed my value proposition and showed me I should always remember why I started the brand in the first place. Thank you so much. "

Applications Now Open

Join the
Next Cohort

If you are a designer with vision but limited infrastructure, this is your invitation. The Pink Maison Catalyst Program is built for creatives ready to move beyond the emerging stage.

Apply Now

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis