Startup Story
Iara Muchanga is the founder of FERMU, a sustainable Mozambican jewellery and accessory brand founded in 2022 that is faithful to its identity and its passion for reducing the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry. Iara’s work is focused on sustainability, creating accessories from recycled solid waste such as fish carcasses, shells, cardboard plastic bottles, etc.
LoA spoke to founder, Iara Muchanga, about her entrepreneurial journey and her ambitions for the future of her brand.
What does your company do?
Design and manufacture of jewellery, accessories, and clothing.
O que faz a sua empresa?
Design e confecção de bijuterias, acessórios e roupa.
“My work is focused on sustainability, I create accessories with solid waste, such as fish carcasses, shells, cardboard plastic bottles, etc. Our biggest goal is to reduce the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry.”
What inspired you to start your company?
My registered name is Iara de Natividade Fernandes Muchanga, but I am known as Iara Naty, I was born in the city of Xai-Xai province of Gaza, on February 22, 1998, daughter of Jaime Muchanga and Sílvia Fernandes. I completed primary and secondary education in the city of Xai-Xai and moved to Maputo in 2016 to do a degree in industrial chemistry. My passion for fashion began as a teenager when I started drawing sketches and customizing clothes. I believe I was influenced by my mother who always liked fashion. In 2016 I turned a drawing into a dress for the first time at the request of a friend.
I continued to design and create clothes and along the way I rediscovered a passion, which is making jewellery. In 2019 I started selling jewellery as a hobby, this jewellery line was named FERMU. In the same year I participated in Green Is The New Black where I was one of the 10 finalists, I improved my techniques and learned a lot about sustainable fashion, which is a passion of mine. In 2022 I decided to turn my jewellery line into a line of sustainable accessories. Currently, I continue working to ensure that FERMU is a sustainable brand that is faithful to its identity.
O que a inspirou a iniciar a sua empresa?
Meu nome de registro é Iara de Natividade Fernandes Muchanga, mas conhecida por Iara Naty, nasci na cidade de Xai-Xai província de Gaza, no dia 22 de Fevereiro de 1998, filha de Jaime Muchanga e Sílvia Fernandes. Concluí o ensino primário e secundário na cidade de Xai-Xai, mudei-me para Maputo em 2016 para fazer licenciatura em química industrial. Minha paixão por moda iniciou na adolescência, quando comecei a desenhar croquis e customizar roupas, acredito que por influencia da minha mãe que sempre gostou de moda. Em 2016 transformei um desenho em vestido pela primeira vez, a pedido de uma amiga. Continuei a desenhar e criar roupas, nesse percurso redescobri uma paixão que é fazer bijuterias, e em 2019 comecei a vender bijuterias como hobbie, a essa linha de bijuterias deu o nome de FERMU. No mesmo ano participei do Green Is The New Black onde fui uma das 10 finalistas, aprimorei as minhas técnicas e aprendi muito sobre a moda sustentável que é uma paixão minha. Em 2022 decidi tornar a minha linha de bijuterias em uma linha de acessórios sustentáveis. Actualmente continuo a trabalhar para que a FERMU seja uma marca sustentável e fiel a sua identidade.
“I recycle and reuse materials. The work is artisanal. Each piece is designed and made with the greatest love and attention.”
Why should anyone use your service or product?
My work is focused on sustainability, I create accessories with solid waste (such as fish carcasses, shells, cardboard plastic bottles, etc.). Our biggest goal is to reduce the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry. I recycle and reuse materials. The work is artisanal. Furthermore, each piece is designed and made with the greatest love and attention.
O que torna a sua empresa, serviço ou produto especiais?
O meu trabalho é focado na sustentabilidade, crio acessórios com resíduos sólidos (tais como carcaça de pescado, conchas, garrafas plásticas papelão, etc). o nosso maior objectivo é reduzir os danos ambientais causados pela indústria da moda. Faço reciclagem e reutilização de materiais. O trabalho é artesanal. E além disso cada peça é desenhada e confeccionada com o maior amor e atenção.
Tell us a little about your team:
For now, I work with my mother, and she helps me as much as possible. We work from home; we manage to find a balance in that regard. As we make the pieces, we improve our knowledge and techniques.
Fale-nos um pouco sobre a sua equipa:
Por enquanto trabalho com minha mãe ela me auxilia na medida do possível. Trabalhamos de casa, conseguimos encontrar um equilíbrio quanto a isso. Enquanto confeccionamos as peças vamos aprimorando os nossos conhecimentos e técnicas.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
No. It all started as a dream of a girl from a small town. In a short time I will integrate into the business world.
Partilhe um pouco da sua jornada empresarial. Tem algum historial de atividade empresarial?
Não. Tudo começou como sonho de uma menina de uma cidade pequena. Com o pouco tempo vou me integrando no mundo empresarial.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I would like to open a physical space, export my products, explore new materials, and collaborate with other brands.
Quais os seus planos e aspirações futuros para a sua empresa?
Gostaria de abrir um espaço físico, exportar os meus produtos, explorar novos matérias e colaborar com outras marcas.
“What gives me satisfaction as an entrepreneur is seeing how my work inspires people. Being able to do something I love and monetize that passion, and to contribute to a change, no matter how small it may be.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
To see how my work inspires people. Being able to do something I love and monetize that passion, and to contribute to a change, no matter how small it may be.
O que lhe dá mais satisfação enquanto empreendedora?
Ver como o meu trabalho inspira as pessoas. Poder fazer algo que amo e monetizar essa paixao. contribuir para uma mudaçca por mais pequena que ela seja.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
My advice for other women looking to startup in business is you will need a lot of strength. Do it for love and have a lot of determination.
Qual o maior conselho que pode dar a outras mulheres que pensam abrir uma empresa?
Muita força. Faça por amor e tenha muita determinação.
Contact or follow FERMU
eMail: iarah.natyy@gamil.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yarafernandes.yarafernandes?locale=pt_BR
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Yara_Natty
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iara_natyy/
Why LoA loves it…
When women entrepreneurs harness their passion in business, they can make both a profit and a positive impact in the world. Iara Muchanga’s drive to find ways of reducing the environmental damage caused by the fashion industry led her to build a business and brand around the recycling of waste materials into jewellery and accessories. She is proof positive that with passion, combined with innovation and creativity, it’s possible to build a business that does good in the world. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa