Startup Story
Elicha Fernandes Valdez is originally from Cape Verde and has lived in Maputo, Mozambique for 3 years with her family. Graduated in Medicine, she found in Macramé a way to redefine herself, express her creativity and occupy her time, adding quality and beauty to her days. About 2 years ago she created the brand MacramêbyElicha and today shares her art with the world through his Instagram and Facebook pages.
Elicha é natural de Cabo Verde e reside há 3 anos em Maputo, com a família.
Formada em Medicina, encontrou no Macramê uma forma de se redefinir, expressar a sua criatividade e ocupar o seu tempo, adicionando qualidade e beleza aos seus dias. Há cerca de 2 anos criou a marca MacramebyElicha e partilha a sua arte com o mundo, através das suas páginas do Instagram e do Facebook.
LoA spoke to Elicha Fernandes Valdez about her passion for Macramé and her personal career reinvention through her craft.
“Macramé was an escape and therapy at a very difficult time in my life. When I started showing what I did on my social media, I was asked if I sold my pieces. Then came the business idea!”
What does your company do?
Decorative and utilitarian macrame.
Macramê decorativo e utilitário.
What inspired you to start your company?
Macramé was an escape and therapy at a very difficult time in my life. When I started showing what I did on my social media, I was asked if I sold my pieces. Then came the business idea!
O macramê foi um escape e uma terapia numa altura muito difícil da minha vida. Quando comecei a mostrar o que fazia nas minhas redes sociais, fui questionada se vendia as minhas peças. Aí surgiu a ideia de negócio!
Why should anyone use your service or product?
All pieces are carefully handcrafted using environmentally sustainable raw materials. I propose to fulfill my customers' decorating dreams in macramé.
Todas as peças são cuidadosamente feitas à mão, utilizando matéria-prima ambientalmente sustentável. Proponho realizar os sonhos de decoração dos clientes em macramê.
Tell us a little about your team:
Right now, I'm the only one making and delivering the product range, as well as taking care of all the logistical and commercial aspects of the business.
Neste momento sou a única a fazer e a entregar as peças, bem como a tratar de toda a parte logística e comercial.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My journey in entrepreneurship has been one of “learning by doing”. My area of training is Medicine and I have always practiced… until I arrived in Mozambique, where I found myself unable to practice and was “forced” to reinvent myself.
A minha jornada no empreendedorismo tem sido de “aprender fazendo”. A minha área de formação é a Medicina e sempre exerci…até chegar a Moçambique, onde me vi impossibilitada de exercer e fui “obrigada” a me reinventar.
“The biggest lesson I learned (and that I share) is that we can do a lot in the most diverse areas of activity! Adversity can be an opportunity for growth and rediscovery of our personal power!”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
What satisfies me the most is knowing (and realizing) that I met the customer's expectations! I like to be challenged and challenge myself to do more and better in the art of macrame!
O que mais me satisfaz é saber (e perceber) que correspondi às expectativas do cliente! Gosto de ser desafiada e de me desafiar a fazer cada vez mais e melhor na arte do macramê!
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The biggest lesson I learned (and that I share) is that we can do a lot in the most diverse areas of activity! Adversity can be an opportunity for growth and rediscovery of our personal power!
A maior lição que aprendi (e que compartilho) é que podemos fazer muito nas mais diversas áreas de atuação! Uma adversidade pode sim ser uma oportunidade de crescimento e de redescoberta do nosso poder pessoal!
Contact or follow MacramêbyElicha
Email: elichafernandes@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083583761757&mibextid=avESrC
Instagram: https://instagram.com/macramebyelicha?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Why LoA loves it….
Hearing Elicha Fernandes Valdez speak about her entrepreneurial journey is powerful and she is a great example of how women can overcome personal challenges in life through reinvention and tapping into sources of passion and creativity. She has used her creative skill and passion for Macramé as the source of her business, and also the rediscovery of her personal power. Inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa