Niaz and Migyle, V&A Retail Development Team 10 Mar 2025 Meet our Retail Developers The V&A Waterfront is one of the country’s premiere retail destinations, renowned for customer excellence and the kind of variety that guarantees you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for. But to cater to every preference, passion and pocket, our team works hard to curate and craft the perfect retail spaces to give brands a stage to tell their stories.Our team of retail developers, led by Niaz and supported by Migyle, are expert at building the ideal spaces for modern retailers, while still celebrating the heritage that is deeply rooted in our neighbourhood. Explore how they create welcoming spaces that are sustainably minded and focused on enabling opportunity for all. INTRODUCING NIAZ AND MIGYLE, V&A RETAIL DEVELOPERS HERITAGE AND FUTURE MEET AT THE WATER'S EDGEAs V&A Retail Developers, we see ourselves as a conduit between the boots on the ground (engineers, architects, builders and more), the wants and needs of retail brands, and the values and priorities of our neighbourhood. In developing spaces, there are many stakeholders that need to be considered and it’s our job to make sure that the various parties are happy with the final product. "This is not a one or two-man show. It takes a whole team of professionals and tradespeople to go from vision to reality. It can be stressful at times (in the retail space, our turnaround times are often less than 12 months) but it is incredibly fulfilling to see new life breathed in to a space. When the ribbon is cut, and you see the community using the spaces as intended, it’s a wonderful feeling."- Niaz & Migyle, V&A Retail Developers Because the Waterfront is not your typical space, where you are building from a fresh canvas, protecting the heritage of our storied neighbourhood is a crucial consideration. We work mindfully to preserve the fabric of the past, while ensuring that spaces work for the business and community. We don’t believe that spaces should stand empty, when they have potential to serve the community. Our goal is to bring them to their highest and best use, without disrespecting their roots.We are also mindful of inclusivity and creating opportunity throughout the way that we develop. We do this through various ways, from prioritising the comfort and functionality of pedestrians and the general public (instead of creating exclusionary retail spaces) and by upskilling smaller contractors to work on bigger and bigger projects, as they prove themselves.As a neighbourhood, we are active champions of sustainability. We work with the broader team at the V&A Waterfront to plug into the various planet-friendly initiatives and innovations (such as smart water use, waste-wise solutions and re-purposing materials as much as possible) already happening in the neighbourhood. We even work with one of our contractors to make sure that any usable but unwanted materials, finishes and furniture find new homes with organisations in need. A DAY IN THE LIFE09:00Niaz starts his day at a coffee shop in the heart of the neighbourhood, soaking up the scenery for inspiration. Here, he sketches some ideas.10:30Niaz meets with Migyle, coming from a site visit on a project that’s in the works, to discuss a new project. They brainstorm and debate ideas.12:00Niaz meets with a team of architects to discuss new possibilities for upcoming spaces.13:00Time for lunch! Developing the neighbourhood requires fuel.14:00It takes a community to pull this off. Migyle sits with the engineers on an existing project, checking in on the progress.15:00After a day of being on site and meeting with the professionals that help us develop our spaces, Migyle and Niaz have a budget catch-up.16:00Before calling it a day, the Retail Development team meet with their partners-in-retail, the Retail Leasing team, who completes the masterpiece by filling these spaces with suitable brands. FROM INTERNSHIP TO IMPACTNiaz: “When I was younger, someone took a chance on me. Now, that I can enable someone else, I am a firm believer that you have to ‘return the favour’. When I met Migyle, I realised he had immense talent and great potential. I also realized that his strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa, and that we could complement each other. 7 years later, and the proof is in the pudding: Migyle is an impactful and inspiring mover and shaker in this team.”Migyle: “I started at the V&A straight after my studies, as an intern, in 2018. It was a big break but what really helped to leap-frog my career was the trust of a mentor like Niaz. He saw something in me and threw me into the deep end. I am proud to say that, with help, I’ve learned to swim, and to keep learning and growing. It’s a real blessing to have a mentor like Niaz and to work in an organisation that really cares about the growth of its teams.” What’s next for New retail Spaces at the V&A?At the V&A Waterfront, we do things differently. We push our visionaries and the executors of that vision to be bold and to push the boundaries. We encourage innovation and personal growth, through challenging our teams to take things to the next level.Keep your eyes peeled for exciting developments coming soon. Just like our Granger Bay redevelopment, where we will revolutionise the shoreline. What about another exciting project for your enjoyment? Well, you heard it here first: we’re working on renovating the iconic amphitheatre at the core of our waterfront world to accommodate more visitors. If we can see it, we can build it! IN THE WORDS OF OUR CHANGEMAKERS Related stories Deidre, Social Impact At The V&A Read more on our Changemaker: Deidre, Social Impact at the V&A Read More Luxolo, V&A Academy Graduate Read more on our Changemaker: Ayanda, V&A Seal Monitor Read More Introducing V&A Change Chapters Read more about our neighbourhood strategy in creating ripples for good. Read More share
