Startup Story
Handmade Moz is a Mozambican accessory brand founded by creative entrepreneur Sinna Duarta, that focuses on the design, manufacture and marketing of a unique range of handmade jewellery and handbags. She uses Capulana as the fabric source of inspiration for many of her unique pieces, something that resonates with her local customers.
LoA spoke to founder Sinna Duarte about her inspiration and skills she inherited from her grandmother, her business ambitions, and her love of jewellery and accessory making.
What inspired you to start your company?
The desire to create items portraying the peace and beauty of Mozambique for women of the world.
“The inspiration to start my company came from the desire to create items portraying the peace and beauty of Mozambique for women of the world.”
“Each item is made by me personally from locally sourced materials. I have a unique style which is portrayed in my work.”
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Each item is made by me personally from locally sourced materials. I have a unique style which is portrayed in my work. The natural products such as shells and stones are hand collected and the cloth (capulana) represent the national dress of Mozambican women.
Tell us a little about your team
The team currently consists of only me with marketing support provided by Athina Yalias and Milena Manjate.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I started making items for myself using skills taught to me by my grandmother in Quelimane. Quelimane is situated in the northern part of Mozambique and is a small city by anyone's standards. The items (earrings and handbags) were loved by people who saw them and I constantly had to make more to replace what was "sold" to friends. When I moved to Maputo, I started making simple items at night after work and now find myself in a position where I must upscale my production in order to meet demand.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I will have to grow the company but I will not do so to the detriment of the quality and uniqueness of each item or the future of the unemployed Mozambican women. I intend to set up a larger production facility in Matola in which I wish to employ four ladies. The second phase in the production planning is the creation of a facility for unemployed woman in the rural area of Ressano Garcia to utilise their creativity. If I can find the correct champion for the cause, I will also eventually open a manufacturing facility in my hometown of Quelimane.
I plan to allow generic sales growth through women's networks and interest groups to drive overall company and production growth. The products and their uniqueness should form the backbone of the marketing drive rather than the popular sexist portrayal of trinkets for women.
“I plan to allow generic sales growth through women's networks and interest groups to drive overall company and production growth.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing my products being loved by other people and realizing that what I make is really what the market wants.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Do not hesitate, do what you love with passion and the concept will be adored and supported by other women.
Find out more
Email: handmademoz@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pg/Handmade-Jewellery-426598887770639/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/s.crafts_/
Why LoA loves it…
For many women entrepreneurs, inspiration to start a business comes from family and community, particularly in the creative space. For Sinna Duarte, her original inspiration came from her grandmother who shared her skills, knowledge and love of traditional fabrics. She has since taken that early inspiration to a new level through her business and the jewellery and accessories she now creates for her customers. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa