Afifah Zualo, a Mozambican artisan entrepreneur creating ethnic contemporary jewellery celebrating beadwork

August 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Afifah Zualo, founder, M'Kono (Mozambique)

Afifah Zualo is an artisan (multi-artist) entrepreneur and the founder of M'Kono in Mozambique. She trained in Railway Engineering, but today sees the design of ethnic-contemporary jewellery as a way of codifying feelings and expressing Mozambican identity. Her Mozambican start-up seeks to honour cultural traditions while innovating in design and technique. A Leader and Social Innovator, Afifah employs a single employee, but her startup generates income for six other participants in her community who participate in the business passively. She believes in a world in which all women are respected and have justice for their efforts returned and aspires to conquer the world with her work.

Roxanne Campbell, a goldsmith and jewellery designer building a luxury goods business in South Africa

March 10, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Roxanne Campbell, founder, designer & creative director, Victoria Orpen Jewellers (South Africa)

Roxanne Campbell is the founder, designer, and creative director of Victoria Orpen Jewellers, a luxury goods manufacturer and sales business launched in 2015 in South Africa. As an entrepreneur in the jewellery design and manufacturing industry, she is a goldsmith by profession. Roxanne recently completed an enterprise development programme in diamond manufacture and processing. Her work experience extends beyond a jeweller and diamantaires bench, to international trade shows in Paris, Miami, and New York, to liaising with clients in Scotland, London, Denmark, New Jersey, and Chicago for new business development and sales within the luxury goods sector.

Nuria Arbelo, a unique earring design brand builder in Mozambique

March 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Nuria Arbelo, founder, Brincadeira (Mozambique)

Nuria Arbelo is the founder of Brincadeira, a vibrant earrings brand with an exclusive design located in Maputo, Mozambique. Born in the Canary Islands, Nuria arrived in Mozambique for work in 2018. In 2021, she founded Brincadeira without knowing that, two years later, the brand would lead her to leave her profession as a project manager to become an entrepreneur dedicated to the design of unique earrings.

Sylvia Omina Otsieno, a Kenyan jewellery brand builder with impact

March 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Omina Otsieno, an innovative fashion brand in Kenya, renowned for its distinctive jewellery crafted from banana fibre.

Sylvia Omina Otsieno is the founder and creative director of Omina Otsieno, an innovative fashion brand in Kenya, renowned for its distinctive jewellery crafted from banana fibre. Born and raised between Nairobi and Busia, Sylvia's formative years in Busia ignited her passion for crafting, where she found abundant materials at her disposal. Inspired by her familial heritage of creativity, including her mother's adeptness at crocheting and her grandparents' tradition of weaving handcrafted baskets for livelihood, Sylvia began her journey of artistic expression. Driven by a steadfast commitment to social impact and artistic innovation, Sylvia continues to redefine the boundaries of fashion entrepreneurship, inspiring change not only in the lives of individuals but also within their communities. The business has created jobs for 17 local people.

Iara Muchanga, a Mozambican jewellery and accessory designer focused on sustainability through recycling

December 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Iara Muchanga, founder, FERMU (Mozambique)

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.

Katherine-Mary Pichulik, an ethical jewelry and accessory brand-builder based in South Africa

May 7, 2023 Melanie Hawken

PICHULIK, a brand celebrating sacred feminine wisdom through its unique and intentional jewelry designs.

Katherine-Mary Pichulik founded PICHULIK in 2013 and is Joint CEO and Creative Director. Prior to establishing the jewelry and accessories brand, Katherine completed a BA Honours in Fine Arts at Cape Town University. PICHULIK is sold in up to sixteen countries around the world and has collaborated with Copenhagen luxury brand By Malene Birger, and LVMH winner Lukhanyo Mdingi. Katherine has received multiple design accolades including, Accessory Designer of the Year by African Fashion International, TWYG Sustainable Fashion Accessory Award, and Vogue Italia’s top 10 jewelry brands. PICHULIK is regularly featured in global publications, including VOGUE US, VOGUE UK, Conde Nast Traveller, and L” Official Mexico. Katherine is a South African Gazelle top 40 SMME, and United States International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni.

Pichulik celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary with the launch of an iconic Silver Jewellery Collection

April 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Pichulik is an ethical jewellery atelier based in Cape Town, South Africa and founded by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, and is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary in style - with the launch of a new Silver Collection featuring five of its most iconic jewellery pieces. Inspired by ancient cultures and mythology, Pichulik uses the language of African artistry and ornamentation to create sculptural accessories that celebrate empowering feminine narratives. Each piece is a talisman, handcrafted from its signature rope, combined with cast-brass elements, precious stones and unexpected organic materials, to create distinctive and unique forms.

Lioness Launch / New online engagement ring design service launched in South Africa

June 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Preposal is a new online service founded by Lucinda Dabbs in South Africa that helps your partner surprise you with the engagement ring of your dreams. Her newly launched platform allows you to create a profile and you’ll be guided through a set of questions to help you narrow down the specifics of your perfect engagement ring. Then, when it’s time to propose, your partner simply logs in on their side and downloads your Preposal mood board. This single-page tool contains all the information and vocabulary they need to confidently make this life-changing purchase. Thanks to Preposal, you can say yes to them and to your dream piece of jewellery.

Helen Viljoen, a South African sustainability focused luxury jewellery brand builder

April 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Helen Viljoen, founder Nebü (South Africa)

Nebü is a transparently priced, pure investment-grade gold jewellery brand inspired by and made in South Africa by entrepreneur Helen Viljoen. She creates legacy pieces for clients that will not only hold their value but grow in capital appreciation Helen believes this value not only enriches her customers but preserves our precious natural heritage.

Vivette Ayiaga, a Kenyan entrepreneur turning the art of crocheting into a business

December 12, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Vivette Ayiaga, founder, Vee Crafts (Kenya)

Like any specialist craft that requires key skills, a fine eye for detail, and a wealth of creative talent, the art of crocheting demands all three, and Vivette Ayiaga, founder of Vee Crafts in Kenya, has them in abundance. She is passionate about craft and particularly crocheting, and has turned that passion into a business, whilst also continuing her studies in statistical economics at Masinde Muliro University-Kenya.

Hortense Mbea, a Cameroonian entrepreneur building an African lifestyle brand

August 1, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Hortense Mbea, founder, Afropian (Cameroon)

Hortense Mbea is a professional interpreter as well as a creative entrepreneur from Cameroon and the founder of lifestyle brand Afropian which was launched in 2017 in in Addis Ababa. A true nomad and multicultural woman, she was born in the USA and lived in many countries, while always staying very connected to Africa. The Afropian brand is Pan African and it gave Hortense the opportunity to bring together her passion for art and creativity and her mission to promote African excellence and unity. She gained international recognition with coverage from Vogue Italy, was invited to take part in prestigious events such as Addis Ababa Fashion Week and many shows and panels. Her vision is for the world to «Wear Africa Proudly », which is the motto of her brand. She fulfills her mission by providing quality, unique pieces which tell many stories of African tradition and are 100% Made in Africa.

Margaux Rusita, a luxury jewellery designer passionate about sustainable design

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Margaux Wong, a Burundi-based brand turning cow horn into unique luxury accessories

Margaux Rusita is the founder and creative director of the Margaux Wong international, multi-cultural jewellery and accessories brand founded in 2000 and based in Burundi, East Africa. Margaux Wong`s artisans transform discarded cow horn and brass into luxurious, beautiful treasure. Margaux is originally from Guyana, South America. She and her Burundian husband, Simba, and their 5 amazing children, have lived and worked in Burundi for the last 12 years. Margaux Wong's ethos is one which embraces responsible innovation and the brand aims to create its beautiful jewellery using locally acquired, sustainable materials. Margaux Wong is a true representation of Margaux`s cultural background and life experiences, spanning 38 amazing years, across 3 beautiful continents.

Nametso Matlhaga, a jewellery manufacturer in Botswana creating precious memories for clients

July 10, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Nametso Matlhaga, founder of Matthan Jewellery Collection (Botswana)

Those special occasions in life deserve a beautiful, custom made piece of jewellery, and in Botswana, entrepreneur Nametso Matlhaga, founder of Matthan Jewellery Collection, is making memories come true. Her team of craftsmen transform every client’s personal design ideas into bespoke and highly individual pieces of jewellery, making every piece memorable.

Lioness Launch / Luxury jewellery meets conservation and sustainability in South Africa

February 16, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Meet Helen Viljoen, a luxury jewellery brandbuilder with a cause. — When you set out to build a niche jewellery business, underpinned by an ethos of legacy building through sustainable luxury, there is a golden thread that runs through the company and the brand. In the case of Nebü, founded by South African entrepreneur Helen Viljoen, that thread is the creation of beautiful, sustainable jewellery with a cause and a commitment to environmental and wild life conservation.

Marie-Paule Tano, an entrepreneur with a passion for Cote d’Ivoire creating a luxury jewellery and accessory brand inspired by African art and culture

June 15, 2019 Melanie Hawken

In the global jewellery and accessory design space, finding your niche and your design style is all important. For Marie-Paule Tano, founder of rising star brand ROKUS LONDON, her inspiration came from her African heritage and her interest in the ancient cultures of the continent.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.