Lioness Launch / South Africa’s one-stop language shop, EditA Services, launches its new venture, Jomi Books

July 16, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Mignionette Fair, founder, EditA Services (South Africa)

South Africa’s EditA Services, a one-stop language shop for business, has announced the launch of its new product arm, Jomi Books! Founder Mignionette Fair says there is so much more to discover about her business under this new venture, with the first "discovery" being a children's ebook called ‘It's Time’. This colourful story is the perfect addition to bedtime and especially for families who are expanding. There are hopefully many more books to come from Jomi Books, so watch this space!

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Yellow Owl launches a first-of-its-kind in South Africa silent podcast for both deaf and hearing audiences

June 25, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Thuli Zikalala, founder, Yellow Owl (South Africa)

Regular attendees at Lionesses of Africa webinars will recognize the inspirational name and face of Yellow Owl founder, Thuli Zikalala, the pioneering entrepreneur creating inspiring digital content for both Deaf and Hearing audiences. Her latest innovation is the launch of a first-of-its-kind in South Africa silent 10 episode podcast series which captures the stories, experiences, culture and shared values within the Deaf community. Deaf presenters Lerato Maake ka Mncube & Daline 'Crazy D' Maasdorp engage with guests, both Deaf and hearing from different backgrounds, to shape a new narrative about the Deaf community. The name is a word play that invites audiences into the silent world seen through the eyes of Deaf people. Taking a spin on the audio nature of podcasts - ours is visual: the hands become a voice. Expect intimate, informative, inspirational and entertaining conversations shared by influential people within the Deaf community.

Lioness Launch / South African surface and textile design studio, ZURI and IMANI, launches two new clothing collections

June 11, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Joy Ezeka, founder, ZURI and IMANI (South Africa)

ZURI and IMANI is a South African surface and textile design studio founded by talented entrepreneur, Joy Ezeka, on a mission to 'change the narrative of the ‘African print’'. It weaves modern stories inspired by the richness of Africa, to create its own authentic Africanity fabric prints made up of bold pattern designs and colour palettes. This exciting, growing brand has just launched its new 'le MANTEAU-trois' and 'la VESTE-un' collection of trans-seasonal coats and jackets, all made from ZURI and IMANI’s eye-catching, custom fabric prints.

Lioness Launch / South African lifestyle brand, Ledikana, launches unique new golf wear range

May 21, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Popular South African lifestyle brand, Ledikana, founded by entrepreneur Mapholo Ratau and based in Johannesburg, has built a great reputation for offering relevant, quality and unique contemporary ready-to-wear African clothing and gifting. This month sees the launch of the exciting new Ledikana golf wear range. It consists of cute African inspired dresses, skorts and pants for ladies and gents that could be worn on and off the course. The range also includes some great new gifting accessories. This collection of unique timeless golf and lifestyle outfits empower women and gents to play confidently by looking and feeling their best. As with all Ledikana products, the new range is handcrafted and culturally inspired.

Lioness Launch / South African eco-fashion and lifestyle brand LUNAR launches new collection at SA Fashion Week

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

South African eco-fashion and lifestyle brand LUNAR, led by owner Nicola Luther and her talented creative team, has launched its latest collection at SA Fashion Week. LUNAR has firmly established itself as one of the country's leading design labels over the past 25 years, and has built a reputation for creating understated, sophisticated clothing using only the finest, most sustainable natural fabrics.

Award-winning Rio Largo Olive Estate launches its Tree to Table event on 14 May

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

If you are a fan of great olive oil and you want an unforgettable experience, then the place to be on 14 May (Mother’s Day) is the special Tree to Table event at the Rio Largo Olive Estate in South Africa’s Scherpenheuwel Valley, Breede River, Western Cape. Co-owners Brenda and Nick Wilkinson are celebrating their olive harvest and the growth of their multi-award winning brand of olive oil. This will be an event to remember, providing the chance for guests to experience the picking and processing of olives from the Rio Largo Olive Estate, and then a tasting of FRESH olive oil, together with a celebratory meal incorporating the finest Rio Largo Olive Oil. As Brenda says, you never forget the day you taste FRESH olive oil...ever!

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: Pan-African lifestyle brand, Afropian, launches its exciting new website

March 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

In March 2023, Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is launching its brand new website which is a window into everything Afropian: products, processes, artisans, and stories. The business is focused on showcasing 100%, proudly hand-made in Africa clothing, fashion accessories and home decor. The mission is to make you Wear Africa Proudly!

Lioness Launch / South African upcycling business, plasticity, launches its new Work Tote, an upcycled tote bag for working people

February 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Tessa O’ Halloran, founder, plasticity (South Africa)

Discarded plastic waste is a problem for the planet and for humankind as a whole, and the need to find sustainable solutions to transforming that waste into useful products has never been greater. In South Africa, ecopreneur Tessa O’ Halloran, founder of plasticity. is playing her part in finding those solutions. She is launching a great new Work Tote as part of her business range of upcycled products.

Lioness Launch / Mozambican luxury accessory design house, Atelier Taíla Carrilho, launches its eye-catching new R.I.S.E. collection

January 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

For style conscious people who want their accessories to stand out from the crowd, the newly launched R.I.S.E. collection from Mozambican luxury accessory design house, Atelier Taíla Carrilho is a must-have this year. Founder and designer, Taíla Carrilho, creates handmade, truly eye-catching fashion accessories for women and men, utilizing local materials and labour. The new R.I.S.E. collection is inspired by the act of being reborn after a fall.

Lioness Launch / Mozambican people management consulting business, Mbira Advisory, launches new employee wellbeing service

January 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

People management consulting specialist, Shádia Gafur Chachine, founder of Mbira Advisory in Mozambique, is passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of employees. Her business is launching a new service which makes a diagnosis to understand the bottlenecks related to behavioral and inter-personal skills of the company's employees. Thereafter, it creates programs and activities aimed at mental, physical and psychological health. Namely 15 mins of yoga, breathing exercises, simple postures; anti-stress exercises, conversations about different themes such as healthy habits and nutrition, experiences, blockages, fears and beliefs, etc.

Lioness Launch / South African award-winning upcycling business, Lilly Loompa, introduces recycled plastic desk to range

December 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Cape Town Designer and founder of Lilly Loompa, Lizl Naude (from Paarl), is known far and wide for her quirky, upcycled décor items. But more than that, she is known for her purposeful and environmentally-consciousness approach to design. In 2020, during the pandemic, she launched her “My Africa Lap Desk” made with discarded, waste material. It is currently their most popular product. In November 2022, Lizl decided to make the evolution from wood to recycled plastic for the next generation of the desk and launched it to market.

Lioness Launch / Organic Naturals Skincare in Botswana launches its new ‘one-stop’ toning serum for balanced skin tone

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Organic Naturals Skincare, the Botswana-based business and brand founded by entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, is launching its new Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum in October 2022. The scientific potency of the Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum is proven to brighten and clear the skin by reducing hyperpigmentation; reduce fine lines by improving skin roughness, colour and elasticity by strengthening the skin barrier; reduce severe acne by fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing sebum production; and hydrate the skin.

Lioness Launch / New event venue launched in Ghana focused on customer relaxation needs

October 2, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Patience Maame Mensah, founder, Self Indulgence Company Limited (Ghana)

For customers looking for an event venue in Accra, Ghana for that special occasion, then Patience Maame Mensah, founder of Self Indulgence Company Limited, the multi-faceted home maintenance and property management agency with specialist nanny services and events offerings, has launched an exciting new venue.

Lioness Launch / Lifestyle brand, Africana Woman, launches its first international retreat for women

September 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Chulu Chansa, founder, Africana Woman (Zambia)

Africana Woman is a lifestyle brand, founded by Chulu Chansa in Zambia, that helps women of African descent connect, collaborate and celebrate. Chulu believes in pursuing holistic health in order to attract true wealth. The brand’s range of products support women in their mental, emotional and spiritual health, with Retreats, Workshops, Courses, and Community on offer. This month sees the announcement of the first International Retreat to Marrakech, Morocco. The Retreat is slated for 2-7 July, 2023 and will take the women through a signature program called KNOW your Roots, Grow your Purpose. This is a guided, deep self-reflection where women will rest, reflect and reconnect with themselves.

Lioness Launch / Top Malawian fashion label launches its new 100 Year Plan Collection

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

The Lilly Alfonso fashion design label, created by its founder of the same name, has evolved over the years to become one of the top fashion labels in Malawi and is slowly becoming a global fashion brand. Building on its success to date, the Lilly Alfonso brand is introducing an exciting new clothing collection for men and women called the 100 Year Plan collection.

Lioness Launch / New motivational book launched in Botswana to inspire people in their daily lives

July 31, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For those people who are looking for some daily motivation and inspiration in their lives, entrepreneur Gaolapelwe Badumedi Matsetse-Mpete, founder of Bonton Botswana (Pty) Ltd, is launching a new book which promises to deliver motivation a-plenty to readers. The book is titled, “In Her Own Voice”, and combines personal memoir with motivational quotes to live by each day.

Lioness Launch / New book launched to raise children’s awareness of differently-abled and deaf people and to celebrate sign language

July 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For children, the first day at a new school is always challenging, but even more so when you are deaf. Author and entrepreneur, Nancy Gaylard, founder of Not Just Consulting based in South Africa, has written a new book ‘Once Upon A Sign: Ayen’s First Day’, which aims to expose children, during their formative years, to differently abled and deaf people in particular. With this wonderful new book, she hopes it will start a conversation about what makes each of us different and how this difference should be celebrated.

Lioness Launch / Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand, Kunjina, launches new concept collection

June 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kunjina Tesfaye, founder, Kunjina (Ethiopia)

Kunjina, a unique Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand that mainly caters to women within the age range of 25-40 and founded by Kunjina Tesfaye, is launching its new concept collection this month. The collection named UDET, a Geez word meaning cycle, is Inspired by Kunjina's personal experience. The collection revolves around topics like fear, productivity guilt and growth. It shows the process of self-doubt, transformation and self-actualization using the metamorphosis cycle of a butterfly as a metaphor.

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.

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