Entrepreneur Mapholo Ratau knows how to spot a gap in the marketplace, and for her, that gap was finding high quality, contemporary clothing designs that were a celebration of South African culture. Her solution was to create an exciting brand and range of clothing that is unmistakably her own.
LoA chatted to Mapholo recently to find out more about this appealing brand.
What does your company do?
My business model was and is to sell ready to wear contemporary African garments for locals and tourists in convenient locations. I hated having to look for someone to make me an outfit every time there was an occasion. I saw a gap and decided to operate like Edgars and Woolworths but making my own clothes; celebrating South African cultures. I started with one seamstress and the rest is history.
“Today, Ledikana is a high quality, premium brand that specializes in the manufacturing and retailing of contemporary African clothing (Seshweshwe print, leather and beaded clothing) and accessories.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Ledikana was established through the love of hats! My passion started Ledikana. In 2011, I went to my Aunt’s funeral in Limpopo. Everyone admired the hat I was wearing, so I took orders even though I was not selling hats at that time. By Thursday the following week I had sold 10 hats and that was the start of the business, Ledikana. I started designing the hats and making them while I was still working full time and sold them at the Rosebank Sunday Market and at work, church and everywhere else from the boot of my car. The business grew from hats to clothing, Achaar, Chillies etc. My friends used to call me a General Dealer and it never used to bother me.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Today, Ledikana is a high quality, premium brand that specializes in the manufacturing and retailing of contemporary African clothing (Seshweshwe print, leather and beaded clothing) and accessories targeted at tourists, business travellers, leisure, visitors, employees, tenants and corporations in and around OR Tambo International Airport and the Melrose Arch precinct where the retail businesses operate. Ledikana caters for male, female and the kiddies’ market.
“Ledikana Creations empowers the skills of women across South Africa, mostly sole breadwinners and pensioners from the rural areas of Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng.”
Tell us a little about your team
Ledikana Creations has about 12 full time employees and the rest are casual employees and consultants; there are also independent artisans and seamstresses across South Africa. Ledikana Creations empowers the skills of women across South Africa, mostly sole breadwinners and pensioners from the rural areas of Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu Natal, Limpopo and Gauteng. In terms of my own leadership style, I am very dynamic and open minded and like to involve my employees in my business by giving them roles that will empower them.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have been inspired by the family business, and the lessons I learned from my father have particularly inspired me a lot. He used to encourage us to work almost all the time in the family business and to create anything artistic using our hands. He then sold our art work to a lady by the name of Mrs Viljoen, whom was one of my father’s suppliers. That’s how I learned to have money all the time. Fear of poverty motivates me. My father used to say to us, “if you do not work hard in life you will suffer. You will see your friends succeeding and you will be left behind”. That used to scare me because I did not want to be poor and suffer in life. Those proverbs still scare me and make me wake up at 4:00 in the morning and work hard. The values I learnt from my upbringing presented me with the opportunities to do many things I loved and create a great living for my family.
“I recently launched a new range called Babina Noko, inspired by Bapedi Culture. Noko (porcupine) is a Totem for the Bapedi tribe across South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To grow the brand !!!!! I recently launched a new range called Babina Noko, inspired by Bapedi Culture. Noko (porcupine) is a Totem for the Bapedi tribe across South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana. One of their kings is King Sekhukhune the 1st. Babina Noko consists of a range of colourful blankets, cosmetic bags and corporate gifts. The print is a celebration of my heritage, culture and tradition. I designed this range to honour and celebrates this great nation. Porcupine quills symbolize the rich heritage of the Bapedi nation.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I love what I am doing and feels a sense of satisfaction from my work. To me, that is success. I believe that nothing is impossible when you do something that you love and set achievable goals for yourself regardless of what others think about your goals.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
It is through hard work and bearing the pain of working extra hours.
Contact or follow Ledikana
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL mapholo@ledikana.com
Why LoA loves it….
It is always wonderful to see a strong brand standing out from the crowd, and that is certainly the case with Ledikana. Founder Mapholo Ratau has created a design ethos for her brand that uniquely resonates with both local and international buyers, creating expanded market opportunities for her business. Her tireless commitment to building the business and brand, and empowering other women in the process, is an inspiration to all those other aspirational women entrepreneurs in Africa who look to emulate her success. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa