Globally, there is a growing interest in contemporary African design, particularly in the fashion space, and Fentse Mokale, founder and lead creative at Marabou Essentials, is tapping into that interest. Her accessory brand is capturing the hearts and imagination of a whole new customer base as she creates a really unique range of products that capture a continent through its fabrics.
LoA found out more about this unique and proudly African accessory design label.
What does your company do?
We create handmade fashion accessories made from printed cloth. Marabou Essentials is a passion-fuelled brand of accessories that connects the authenticity of traditional African wear with a modern culture. It is a special craft; think wearable art. It celebrates the freedom for individuality as well as the artistry in fashion. The accessories are inspired by the African aesthetic, the prominence of colour and distinctiveness of bold prints. Our tag line is: Daring Colours * Bold Prints * Intricate patterns.
"It is the coming together of new ideas; the cosmic effect of synergy… It is lights out at 3 am and remembering breakfast at 1 pm. It is the chasing of deadlines and the thrill in all moments."
What inspired you to start your company?
When I first created Marabou Essentials, it was with a purpose of letting out my creativity and sharing it with the world through the accessories I craft. I aimed to inspire confidence and individuality through the love of art and the passion for craft. Some of my creations are readily made for the individuals who will adorn them and others are bespoke; created especially with one person in mind. Both ways are equally fulfilling as they require the same amount of passion for craft.
What is behind the name Marabou Essentials?
I’ve been asked several times what Marabou is and where the name comes from.
Okay, here’s the story: Some time ago, March 2014 to be exact, I went on holiday to Nairobi, Kenya. I was visiting my friend who had been living there with her family for a while. It was a great pleasure; it was my little time away from all my woes back at home. The weather there was beautiful, the people were welcoming, the food was – well, different (in a good way…sometimes- lol?) – and everything was in place. I had a great time. While I was there, my friends gave me a nickname. They called me Marabou. At that time I didn’t know what (a) Marabou was or what the word meant or why they gave me that name. You’d think I would ask, right? Or at least Google the word? I didn’t, I just decided it was a local name given to people and so I went along with it; plus it sounded good, especially the way my friend pronounced it. One time, towards the end of my stay there, we were driving around and when we came across the Marabou stock, my friend asked me if I knew what a Marabou was. After I’d said no, and after she’d pointed to it and I’d looked at her in disbelief; I began to feel from that point, that our whole friendship had been a lie. Why would she have given me that name when this was what a Marabou stock looked like? Right? Sometime later, back at home after I had started creating my accessories and I was looking for a name to give the products, I thought of this name. I thought of how much I had owned it and I especially thought of what it sounded like (the way my friend had pronounced it). I toyed with different variations of it and finally decided on the name Marabou Essentials. So as you might have seen, the Marabou stock is a noticeable feature in the branding behind Marabou Essentials. The Marabou is a large bird that is prominently found south of the Sahara in the African continent. The name is pronounced by many as “Mara-boo” but we at Marabou Essentials pronounce both the O and the U in the name so that it sounds like “Mara-bow-oo”, you know, phonetics. And it turned out to be quite something, wouldn’t you say?
"Creativity in its fullness will allow you to own yourself and embrace your own story. It will marvel at your courage as you put pen to paper, thread to needle, and art to whatever else you touch."
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Marabou Essentials exists to cater to the need for individuals to feel confident and to be unflinching in their own uniqueness through the art they adorn themselves with. So how does it work? Some work is created ready-made and some is created bespoke and tailored for individuals’ personal needs. Some ready-made accessories are purposely made exclusive so that there is only a few of the same kind; this ensures exclusivity and a sense of individualism
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I was born and raised in Phokeng; a village in the North West province of South Africa. I trained as an Engineer and while still working in the sector got inspired to create Marabou Essentials. I am the designer and lead creative within the brand. The whole idea of Marabou Essentials came from my desire to make a mark in the world through the use of my creativity. My love of art and the drive to make new, inspiring and adventurous designs come alive into elaborate creations that fuel what is now Marabou Essentials.
Contact or follow Marabou Essentials
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL fentse@marabouessentials.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
It’s always exciting to see new design talent emerging on the African continent with the ability to merge traditional inspiration with a contemporary twist. Fentse Mokale is one such entrepreneur, creating bespoke accessories that celebrate the unique design aesthetic of the African continent through its distinctive fabrics, colours and textures, but overlaid with a very contemporary design style. Her approach to creating bespoke designs for clients adds to a highly successful creative and business formula. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa