Muze is more than just a clothing boutique. With unique, locally designed, stylish and bold womenswear, it is a beautiful space filled with beautiful things that leaves you feeling… beautiful! Owners Wendy van Zyl and Stephanie Wilkes share the story behind this popular home-grown brand.

Renowned for their big, bold prints, bright colours, and high-quality fabrics and designs, it’s no secret that Muze has become somewhat of a fashion trendsetter on the KZN North Coast.

But, for owners Wendy and Steph, running this business is about more than just selling clothes. “We want women to walk out feeling more confident, beautiful and ‘put together’ than they did when they walked in,” says Wendy van Zyl, who founded the aspirational brand ten years ago.
A mother of two adult sons, Wendy understands that women’s bodies change and evolve through their lives. “Whether you are 18 or 78, we want to push you out of your comfort zone, encourage you to try something different and help you find your fashion identity.”

With a strong emphasis on high-quality, sustainable fashion, Muze garments are made to last. Their ‘capsule wardrobe’ allows you to mix and match items – all of which are classic and carefully made. There is no room for ‘fad’ or fast fashion at Muze.

Always having had a flare for the creative, Wendy is a born-and-bred North Coast girl. She grew up in Salt Rock and married her husband Jake before stumbling into the fashion industry in 2012 while helping a friend merchandise her store.

“My mom and sister had a small fashion label, so I had been exposed to the fashion world. I’ve always been passionate about bold, unusual fabrics and creating unique items. I started Muze in 2014 with a small boutique at Burnedale.” A few years later, Wendy moved her store to the New Salt Rock Centre where she refined the brand and its signature style. “It was a challenging time, and I was looking for a business mentor. Being on your own is lonely and difficult.” That was when Wendy met Stephanie Wilkes. “We met at Linc Church and Steph introduced me to her mom Shelagh – a successful corporate clothing manufacturer and supplier for casinos, hotels and the catering industry. It started as a mentorship but ended in a business partnership – and it was the best thing that could have happened to us!”

Stephanie, a mom of two toddlers, grew up seeing her mother run the corporate clothing business. She studied psychology, married her high school sweetheart, Matt, and decided to help run her mom’s business. “I had my first baby in 2020 and met Wendy in the same year. My mom and I were both loyal Muze customers, and it always amazed us that we could be such different ages but still buy from the same shop,” laughs Steph.
Things changed enormously for Muze when Wendy and Steph teamed up, and most notable was the store’s location. Wendy was adamant that the store be based at Lifestyle Centre in Ballito. When a space opened up during Covid, they jumped at the opportunity.“I’m very much a creative and inspired when I’m surrounded by beautiful things. That’s why Lifestyle Centre was the perfect fit for us. This stunning centre has been so carefully thought out and curated. Great planning went into its design and aesthetic, making you want to spend time here,” says Wendy.

One of the things that sets Muze apart from other stores is the incredible staff. Wendy and Steph have invested time and money into training the shop assistants to be image consultants. “We are enormously proud of our staff. They can advise clients on their body shapes and colours, and they truly represent our brand when we aren’t there.”

Muze has grown from strength to strength over the past four years and their second store opened at Gateway in 2022. Over the past few months, they have also started a corporate clothing range and are now manufacturing all their clothing in their new factory in Umhlanga.

With clients like The Oyster Box, 12 Apostles and Monte Casino already signed up for their elevated, stylish range of corporate wear, Wendy and Steph are looking forward to the next phase of the Muze journey. “All our Muze garments are made at the factory, and we are there every day, overseeing the process. It’s great having full control over the production and our items are of higher quality than ever,” says Wendy.

Always researching trend forecasts and pantones, and constantly designing and printing new fabrics and ranges, the Muze team works months in advance to produce the magnificent pieces you see on the shelf today. The store also stocks a complementary range of high-end brands, like Kirsten Goss, Home Time, Victoria Verbaan, Thandana and Pichulik.

Pop into Muze in Lifestyle Centre’s fashion corridor, for a beautifully different shopping experience.