her creative instincts to flourish inside a more secure framework.
The bureaucratic entanglement had profound implications: "Everywhere I went, I had to explain the situation." Without proper files and deprived of admission to educational institutions, she was forced to sit still as her peers advanced, which took an immense psychological toll. "At some point, I even ran away from home for two weeks just to come to terms with it," she confides. Despite the emotional turmoil, Jordan persevered, enrolling in smaller colleges with less stringent administration. It wasn't until she was twenty that she finally received her proper birth certificate. As if she were making up for the time lost, Jordan then acquired several diplomas, including one for Project Management and Interior Design, followed by a B-tech in Architectural Management.
"I used to draw dresses and costumes," Lumka Jordan recalls with a nostalgic smile spreading across her face. Growing up in a South African township, her girlhood was filled with vibrant sketches hinting at a future in fashion design. But life is rarely in the mood to follow early projections, and pragmatic pressures steered her career realities pushed her towards a reliable choice with a higher chance to secure her financial future. Architecture was seen as a more favorable profession than fashion design. "In those years, especially growing up in a township, our parents wanted us to choose careers that would bring in money," Jordan explains. Guided by her brother, she pursued architecture and interior design, which still allowed toward a different path. South Africa’s economic
STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION Jordan's life has been marked by uncommon challenges, including a bureaucratic nightmare that spanned two decades. Born in the 1990s, just before the historic South African elections, she faced an identity crisis caused by a clerical error at the Department of Home Affairs. Her documents were duplicate versions of her sister’s, creating a legal and personal quagmire. "I didn't even have a proper birth certificate," Jordan says with a gentle smile and a certain level of acquired stoicism in her voice. Little did she know that this mix-up would even prevent her from attending university.
“In a market where the default is often the cheapest option, my competitive edge is my design quality and how I engage with my clients.”
Unlock full access to The Summer’s Issue ’24
Sign Up
Already have an account? Sign In
110
111
Powered by FlippingBook