This month, we're talking to Fatuma Ndenzako (she/her). We spent the afternoon wandering around Carlton – her old stomping ground – capturing these photos at the beautiful Good Gnocchi and around the neighbourhood that holds so many memories for her. There's something about Melbourne's layered street culture and cross-cultural influences that perfectly mirrors Fatuma's approach to life and creativity.

As one of the co-founders of Collective Closets, Fatuma has built something truly special from the ground up, yet somehow this is our first time turning the lens on her for Collective Conversations. She's one of the talented forces behind everything you see and love about this brand, and what makes Fatuma extraordinary is her unwavering commitment to authenticity. Inspired, driven, and optimistic, she treats creativity like a muscle, not a mood, and approaches style with the philosophy of trying something new without taking herself too seriously.

Her approach to fashion is deeply personal – it's about curating looks that reflect her mood, ambition, culture, and sense of humour. Whether that's a tailored suit with gold hoops or an Adidas tee with Collective Closets trousers and a purple lip, every outfit tells a story. She's mastered the art of dressing for herself rather than an audience, turning getting dressed into an empowering ritual rather than a performance.

Beyond Collective Closets, Fatuma has recently launched "The Disappointing Friend" podcast with co-host Juliet Miranda Rowe. The podcast is all about friendship – honest, open, and raw conversations about the beautiful messiness of these relationships that shape us. With the tagline "It's A Mirror, Not A Manual," the podcast perfectly captures her approach to life: real, unfiltered, and refreshingly authentic.

Fatuma draws inspiration from everything around her – from Gertrude Street's runway-for-real-life energy to quiet mornings at Carlton cafés, from Burna Boy's confident swagger to the generational wisdom of the women who raised her. She's someone who romanticises simple routines, lights candles like she's filming a Vogue "Day in the Life," and reminds us that creativity comes from how you live, not just where you work.

Below, Fatuma speaks more on her personal evolution, her values, and what it means to stay true to yourself whilst building something bigger than yourself.

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Inspired. Driven. Optimistic.

What's your current style mantra or motto?

My current style mantra? Try something new and don't take myself too seriously. Style should feel fun, fearless, and a little bit unexpected—like mixing a tailored blazer with trainers or wearing a bold print just because it makes you feel something. I'm all about trusting my instincts, not the rules. If I feel good about it, that's the whole point.

What parts of Melbourne's style or street culture show up in your creative process or collections?

Melbourne's style is so layered—and that's exactly what shows up in my creative process. It's the mix of cross-cultural influence, the way people blend heritage with modernity, and that effortless confidence in self-expression. I'm constantly inspired by Gertrude Street—it's like a runway for real life. The independent stores, the textures, the people-watching—it all feeds into how I design and think about storytelling through clothing.

And let's be real—the weather keeps you on your toes. You learn to build versatility into everything, because style here has to flex with the day. Melbourne's ever-changing vibe, its ethnic richness, and that low-key cool you see on the streets—it all finds its way into the details of what we create. It's not just fashion, it's a lived experience.

How has learning to dress for yourself (not others) changed your relationship with fashion? Or, if you're still figuring this out, what would dressing for yourself look like?

Honestly, learning to dress for myself has been a complete game-changer—not just in how I approach fashion, but in how I move through the world. For a long time, I was dressing with this unconscious audience in mind: What's appropriate for this event? What will people expect me to wear as a founder? As a woman? As a Black woman? But over time, I realised I was dimming parts of myself to fit into aesthetics that didn't feel like mine.

Now, dressing for myself means getting dressed is an empowering ritual, not a performance. I'm not following trends for the sake of them—I'm curating a look that reflects my mood, my ambition, my culture, and yes, my sense of humour. Some days that's a tailored suit and gold hoops; other days it's an Adidas tee with Collective Closets trousers and a purple lip. But every day, it's mine.

Style becomes a form of storytelling. And in both business and life, people connect more deeply when you're authentic. That's the sweet spot.

How has Melbourne's culture—its diversity, creativity, and pace—influenced the way you lead and build your fashion business?

Melbourne's energy is electric—it's this beautiful mix of cultures, creativity, and hustle that never lets you get comfortable. That diversity pushes me to think bigger and be bolder in how I lead and build my business. The city's pace means you've got to stay sharp, adaptable, and authentic all at once. I draw so much inspiration from the street style, the local artists, the food, and even the conversations overheard in cafés—it all feeds into creating something that's not just fashion, but a reflection of a vibrant, evolving community. It's about leading with heart whilst staying fiercely strategic—Melbourne reminds me every day to do both.

If your personal style had a soundtrack, what would be the opening song? Why does this song represent you?

If my personal style had a soundtrack, the opening song would be "Anybody" by Burna Boy—no question. That track walks in before I do. It's confident, unapologetic, and has this smooth, global swagger that feels very aligned with how I show up in the world. There's a rhythm to it that reminds me that I don't need to shout to be powerful—just be authentic and stand firm in who I am. That's exactly how I approach my style: effortless, intentional, and rooted in identity.

But if there were a second track, it would absolutely be "I'm in Love with a DJ" by Yvonne Chaka Chaka. That song is pure energy and elegance—vintage but timeless, feminine but commanding. It's giving auntie-at-the-party-who-runs-the-room energy, and I channel that energy when I get dressed. A little nostalgic, a little playful, but always iconic.

Style, like music, tells people who you are before you say a word. And I like my entrance to sound like someone who knows herself—and enjoys the process.

How do you tap into your creative energy, especially during busy or uninspiring periods?

Tapping into my creative energy—especially when things feel chaotic or uninspiring—is honestly less about waiting for some magical burst of inspiration and more about intentionally creating space to reconnect with myself. I treat creativity like a muscle, not a mood. So when I'm busy or drained, I know it's time to shift the energy.

Sometimes that looks like stepping away from the noise—closing the laptop, taking a solo walk with my headphones in, and playing a mix of Burna Boy, Sade, and a little Lauryn Hill to reset the vibe. Other times it's about being around women who inspire me—bold, stylish, grounded women who remind me who the hell I am. That's when the ideas start flowing again.

And honestly? Sometimes I just romanticise the hell out of a simple routine—throw on a fire outfit just to go to the grocery store, light a candle like I'm filming a Vogue "Day in the Life," and remind myself that creativity doesn't always come from a studio—it comes from how you live.

Even on the uninspired days, I've learned that showing up, trusting my vision, and making space for joy is what keeps the creative energy alive. It's not about forcing the spark—it's about protecting the flame.

What creative project or idea has been calling to you lately?

Lately, I've felt this deep pull towards creating something entirely new—something that doesn't just exist for the moment but lives on and means something. I keep coming back to the idea of building a space, a platform, or even a story-driven project that nurtures my family and shares the generational wisdom we carry.

It's not about nostalgia—it's about honouring the past whilst reimagining the future. I want to capture the little things that made growing up in my family so rich: the stories passed around the dinner table, the quiet resilience of the women who raised me, the humour, the grace, the unspoken lessons. I'm thinking of something multi-sensory—part storytelling, part visual archive, part modern-day heirloom.

What's calling me isn't just a project—it's a purpose. I want to create something that gives the next generation language for who they are and where they come from. Something that says, "You belong. You matter. And this is the story that got you here."

Right now, I'm just following the breadcrumbs of inspiration—but I know it's leading me somewhere that feels like home, even if I'm building it from scratch.

How do you show up for yourself when you need encouragement?

When I need encouragement, I get real with myself—like, "You've done harder, you've handled more—keep going." I'll light a candle, blast some TLC or En Vogue, maybe a little Salt-N-Pepa, throw on an outfit that makes me feel that girl, and remind myself: You are the blueprint. Sometimes showing up means slowing down, centring myself, and then stepping back in like I never left.

What makes you feel most confident and authentically yourself when you get dressed?

What makes me feel most confident and authentically me is wearing something that tells a story—especially when it's from our new Collective Closets collection. It's the mix of structure and soul, bold prints with purpose. When I get dressed in pieces that reflect where I come from and where I'm going, I don't just feel styled—I feel seen.

Are there local spots—cafés, galleries, or hidden corners of the city—that help you reconnect with your vision when running a business gets overwhelming?

When running a business starts to feel heavy, I reconnect by immersing myself in places that remind me why I love this city—and more importantly, who I am outside the hustle. Melbourne has this incredible ability to transport you; these spaces make me feel like I could be anywhere in the world.

A quiet morning at Florian Eatery in Carlton grounds me—the coffee is unreal, the produce is so fresh and local, but the vibe feels like a slow Parisian morning. Then there's Good Gnocchi—simple, no-fuss, but every bite feels like a love letter to Italian comfort food. It brings me back to the power of doing one thing really well, and doing it with heart.

When I need visual fuel, I'll walk through NGV's mid-century fashion and art exhibits—there's something about seeing the past reimagined through design that makes me think differently about legacy and storytelling. And Heidi Museum always gives me that breathing space—to think bigger, slower, and more creatively.

ASA YORU is where I feel most connected to culture and innovation. The design, the flavours—it's like being dropped into Tokyo or New York for the night. Toddy Shop is that quiet, luxe reset. It reminds me to rest like someone who owns the room. And honestly, late-night cheeseburgers at Gimlet? They hit differently. It's indulgent, iconic, and very "you've earned this."

Melbourne is so lucky to have this level of quality—from the food to the fashion to the cultural spaces. It's not just inspiring—it transforms me. These places pull me out of the daily grind and drop me back into my purpose. Every time.

Fatuma's approach to authenticity and building businesses with heart aligns perfectly with our "Be Your Own Muse" philosophy. Her commitment to showing up as herself – whether that's mixing a tailored blazer with trainers, wearing bold prints that celebrate her heritage, or treating getting dressed as an empowering ritual rather than a performance – proves that true style comes from confidence, not conformity. She reminds us that style, like music, tells people who you are before you say a word, and her entrance always sounds like someone who knows herself and enjoys the process.

As she puts it, "Style becomes a form of storytelling. And in both business and life, people connect more deeply when you're authentic. That's the sweet spot."

You can find more about Fatuma's work through Collective Closets, listen to "The Disappointing Friend" podcast, or follow her personal journey on her Instagram page.

All images taken by Michaela Barca with links to the be your own muse collection.