Startup Story

Jessica Mkondiwa is a CEO of Malawi Luxury Inc, a ‘print on demand’ clothing line in Malawi. She started the business in September 2019 with the help of her friend, Harrison Soko, with whom she shared ideas and joined together. It has been almost two years so far and she has employed 15 people in the business, of which 91% of them are Malawians.

LoA chatted to Jessica this month to find out more about this unique business model and plans for future growth

What does your company do?

Basically, the company creates designs for T-shirts , hoodies, sweatpants and pillowcases. We print them and ship to the customer upon getting the orders. So the product is only processed upon getting an order from the customer.

“I noticed that people in Malawi love streetwear, so having cool designs could really go along with this design style. It’s just one way of bringing the community together and make sure we are all united.”

What inspired you to start your company?

I noticed that people in Malawi love streetwear, so having cool designs could really go along with this design style. It’s just one way of bringing the community together and make sure we are all united. People from other countries, USA, Europe, are really getting united by designing things that represent their culture and system values. Producing something that represents your Country Culture, is the only thing that can get the community back together.

What makes your business, service or product special?

The business is doing well so far. We have been getting positive feedback from customers and this encourages us to go even higher with our product expansion.

Tell us a little about your team

Our team of designers and fashion experts are highly experienced and proficient in their respective fields which makes our service excellent and professional. At Malawi Luxury Inc, we offer a number of services to our clients. Our team consists of top designers and talented young professionals who are always keen to work with clients who are looking for trendy, fashionable and quality fashion apparel, as well as accessories. So we are exceptional when it comes to business.

“Producing something that represents your Country Culture, is the only thing that can get the community back together.”

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I am an independent individual who loves to do new things and be creative. I have a very optimistic personality that is easy to get along with and I am a creative person and can easily find myself in any situation. I believe that I am a very positive person, who can handle anything. I love to work with people and I am very hardworking, always ready for a challenge. I have a good sense of humor and a great sense of responsibility. I am a fast learner and I am a very flexible person. I love working with new people, learning new things and meeting new people. So this has helped me to learn more from others, hence my ability to grow in business mindset. I graduated in Zambia with a Business major.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

It is our goal to give our customers the same quality, service and brand loyalty as we feel we should have ourselves. The team are not only passionate about the way they work together, but also about the way they represent and serve their customers. We believe that our team of energetic, dedicated individuals go above and beyond to provide the best possible service to our customers. We are planning to bring our own equipment and open a printing center in Malawi, as currently, our manufacturing company for all the designs is located in USA ( Printful).

“Our team consists of top designers and talented young professionals who are always keen to work with clients who are looking for trendy, fashionable and quality fashion apparel, as well as accessories.”

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

From a young age I always had passion for the way women look, have fun and express themselves in their daily lives. With an open heart, positive outlook and strong focus on quality you will find yourself at the top of your game as a designer. What do they say about dedication? I am a graduate of the Department of Business, in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media. Over the past few years I have developed many collaborations with designers, advertising agencies, and publishing houses. I have also collaborated with designers to design and execute fashion shows. I am proud of my work and always looking for innovative ways to engage the market, to create a better world, and to be innovative in my own ways.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

Start small and go big. Don't be scared to start from the scratch, The more you start early, the more you discover new opportunities and the more you go big.

Contact or follow Malawi Luxury Inc.

Why LoA loves it….

At Lionesses of Africa, we always love reading the stories of women entrepreneurs who see a gap in the market and create successful businesses to fill that gap. Jessica Mkondiwa is one such entrepreneur, making the world of print on demand clothing and accessories one where her company can excel and lead the market. Jessica is also a job creator, and in the short time that her company has been in existence, it has already created job opportunities for 15 people. Now, that is seeing a gap, taking it, and changing economic lives for the better through business. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa