Mo's Crib, a sustainable homeware manufacturing company in South Africa turning handcrafted design into a multinational business

Mo’s Crib, a premium sustainable homeware brand founded by sisters Morongwe and Michelle Mokone in Pretoria, South Africa. From humble beginnings making origami at local markets, the company has grown into one of Africa’s leading exporters of handcrafted décor. Using recycled PVC waterpipes and natural materials such as banana bark, cane, and sisal, Mo’s Crib creates globally sought-after baskets, planters, furniture, and ornaments. Today, the brand supplies major international retailers including Crate & Barrel, Target, and Woolworths Home. Committed to social impact, Mo’s Crib empowers over 85 artisans, creating jobs while advancing environmental sustainability and African design innovation. The business was launched in 2019 and today employs 280 people.

LoA spoke to co-founders, Morongwe and Michelle Mokone to learn more about their inspirational business-building journey, and their vision for the future.

What does your company do?

Mo’s Crib is a premium sustainable homeware and décor company founded by sisters Morongwe and Michelle Mokone in Pretoria, South Africa. We design and manufacture handcrafted lifestyle products such as baskets, planters, laundry bins, wall art, cane furniture, ornaments, and other décor pieces.

Our innovation lies in our eco-conscious materials: we repurpose discarded PVC waterpipes and weave with banana bark, cane, sisal, and ilala palm. By combining African craftsmanship with sustainability, we transform waste into timeless design.

We are globally export-driven, supplying major retailers like Crate & Barrel, Target, Woolworths Home, @Home, and Mr Price Home, while also connecting with local customers through our much-loved Factory Sales.

As a social-impact enterprise, Mo’s Crib employs over 280 artisans and staff, providing training, fair wages, wellness programs, transport support, meals, and educational resources.

At its heart, Mo’s Crib is about design innovation, sustainability, and community empowerment — showcasing Africa’s craftsmanship to the world while creating jobs and protecting the environment.

What inspired you to start your company?

Mo’s Crib was born out of both necessity and vision. My sister Michelle and I started with almost nothing, selling origami art at local markets. From there, we discovered a bigger purpose: to create beautiful, functional products while tackling two urgent issues in South Africa — unemployment and waste.

We saw mountains of discarded PVC pipes and realized they could be transformed into timeless, eco-conscious décor. At the same time, we wanted to empower artisans, create jobs, and showcase African craftsmanship to the world. What began as a survival hustle has become a global, impact-driven brand changing lives and spaces.

What makes your business, service or product special?

Mo’s Crib is special because we combine sustainability, craftsmanship, and social impact.

Innovative Materials: We repurpose discarded PVC waterpipes and weave with banana bark, cane, sisal, and ilala palm, turning waste into luxury décor.

Artisan Craftsmanship: Each product is handwoven with precision, carrying the heritage and creativity of African artisans.

Wellness & Empowerment: Beyond wages, we invest in our 280 staff and artisans’ well-being through daily meals, transport support, access to a library, wellness check-ins, and community upliftment programs — ensuring dignity and holistic care at work.

Global Footprint: Our collections are sold through Crate & Barrel, Target, Woolworths Home, @Home, and Mr Price Home, showcasing African excellence worldwide.

Sustainability with Style: By saving tons of plastic from landfills, we deliver eco-conscious, timeless designs that elevate modern living spaces.

At its core, Mo’s Crib is not just about décor — it’s about designing a better future for people and the planet.

Tell us a little about your team

Our team is the foundation of Mo’s Crib’s success. Since inception, we’ve proudly maintained a 100% staff retention rate, a testament to our culture of care, empowerment, and opportunity.

Today, Mo’s Crib employs over 280 people. At the heart of our operations is a 15-person full-time shared services team — including an accounts coordinator, warehouse coordinator, customer care agents, office assistant, social media manager, and packaging staff — who ensure smooth operations and global customer satisfaction.

The majority of our workforce is our artisan base, making up the creative hands behind our products. Around 80% are based in South Africa, while the rest are spread across Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Malawi, and Rwanda, showcasing the best of African craftsmanship.

We further invest in our team’s well-being through wellness initiatives, daily meals, transport support, and educational resources, ensuring our people thrive personally and professionally.

At Mo’s Crib, our team isn’t just employees — they are the backbone of our global impact, blending skill, dedication, and cultural heritage into every product we create.

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

Our entrepreneurial journey has been one of resilience, reinvention, and vision. Growing up, we were inspired by parents who were entrepreneurs themselves, showing us both the challenges and rewards of building something from the ground up. That spirit of independence and perseverance was instilled in us from an early age.

Before Mo’s Crib, we had our fair share of failed businesses — ventures that didn’t take off but taught us invaluable lessons in strategy, resilience, and humility. Those setbacks became the foundation for how we run Mo’s Crib today.

We are also well-travelled and well-rounded, having worked in diverse roles across industries. This exposure shaped our approach to global markets, business operations, and people management, giving us the perspective needed to build a world-class brand from Pretoria.

What started as a small origami side hustle has now grown into a global movement — proof that with perseverance, adaptability, and a clear purpose, African entrepreneurs can compete and thrive on the world stage.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

At Mo’s Crib, our vision is bold and global. While we are proudly rooted in South Africa, our aspiration is to build a business that transcends borders — a truly global brand recognized and celebrated around the world.

In the near term, we plan to open brick-and-mortar stores in South Africa, creating immersive spaces where customers can experience our craftsmanship and sustainability story firsthand. From there, we aim to expand internationally, with our sights set on launching stores in the United States and beyond.

By 2030, we aspire to employ and empower over 10,000 artisans across Africa, scaling our social impact while preserving and celebrating traditional skills. Ultimately, we want Mo’s Crib to be a household name worldwide, known not only for beautiful, sustainable décor but also for being one of the best companies to work for and partner with globally.

For us, growth means more than revenue — it means creating jobs, uplifting communities, and setting a new standard for what African businesses can achieve on the world stage.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

What gives us the deepest satisfaction as entrepreneurs is knowing that our work serves a purpose far bigger than ourselves.

Job Creation: Every artisan or staff member we employ means a livelihood secured, a family supported, and dignity restored — that impact fuels us every day.

Social Development: We are proud to contribute to our communities by empowering people with skills, wellness initiatives, and opportunities that create lasting change.

Environmental Responsibility: Turning waste like discarded PVC pipes into beautiful, functional décor gives us joy, knowing we’re addressing the environmental crisis while building a sustainable future.

Art & Storytelling: Sharing handcrafted African artistry with the world — and seeing it in homes from Pretoria to New York — is an indescribable honor.

Brand Building: Watching Mo’s Crib grow from a small hustle into a recognized global brand brings immense pride and reminds us of the power of perseverance and vision.

At the heart of it, satisfaction comes from building something meaningful that uplifts people, protects the planet, and celebrates African creativity on a global stage.

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

Our biggest advice to women looking to start-up is this: always do your due diligence on your investors. Funding must be more than money — if it doesn’t come with networks, mentorship, introductions to potential customers, or solutions for compliance and finance, then it may not be worth it. The right partner should help you scale beyond the bank account.

At the same time, know your differentiating factor. Be clear on how your product is different, what problem you are solving, and the social impact you’re driving in your community. For us at Mo’s Crib, that means transforming waste into luxury décor, creating jobs for 280 artisans, and proving that African craftsmanship belongs on the global stage.

In short: secure partners who add value, build with purpose, and let your uniqueness be your power.

Find out more

Email: mo@moscrib.com

Website: http://www.moscrib.com

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MozCrib/?_rdc=1&_rdr#

Twitter: http://@moscrib

Instagram: http://@mos.crib