Claire Nouvel - The startup story of a South African-based jeweller inspired by the precious metals and fabrics of the country

May 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Claire Nouvel, founder and designer, TiLT Handmade Jewels — **Claire Nouvel**, founder and designer, TiLT Handmade Jewels

Claire Nouvel is a young French-born, but South Africa-based jewellery designer who is deeply inspired by African culture and uses that inspiration for the creation of her unique, contemporary jewellery pieces, each one celebrating the local metals and materials used and preserving their integrity and authenticity.

Janet Pulford a South African jewellery designer inspired by the colours of the changing seasons

May 3, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Janet Pulford, founder of Gemboree — **Janet Pulford**, founder of Gemboree

As part of LoA’s Focus on Africa’s Women Jewellery Designers this month, we spoke to Janet Pulford, the Founder and Creative Director of South African company, Gemboree, about her current collection, its design inspiration, and what customers can look forward to in the coming weeks.

Lionesses of Africa celebrates Africa's talented and uniquely creative Women Jewellery Designers throughout May

May 2, 2015 Melanie Hawken

May is LoA's Focus on Africa’s Women Jewellery Designers Month. This month we are turning our attention to the incredibly creative women jewellery designers of Africa, who are turning the precious metals, gems and semi-precious stones found here on the continent into beautiful decorative pieces for the world to wear. These African women jewellery designers are putting the continent on the global map through their uniquely African-inspired designs and technical brilliance.

Another entrepreneurial showcase success for Kamers Autumn2015 in Johannesburg

April 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Oh-lief

Founded by sisters Christine Buchanan and Louiza Rademan, Oh-lief was born out of a love for nature and the desire to use products that would not harm our skin or the environment. Click to visit their website.

Sew Good Handmade

Johanette van Niekerk, founder of Sew Good Handmade produces a wonderful range of handcrafetd jewellery and accessories, all locally produced in South Africa by her loyal team. Click to visit their website.

MATTER OF FAKT

Kara Furter & Mary-Anne Grobler, founders of Matter of Fakt exquisite handcrafted jewellery. Click to visit their website.

Mokopu

Asma Dukanda, founder of Mokopu produces and creates exquisite baby products, clothes and toys, including the fabulous TeePee. Click to visit their website.

O'live

Zikhona Tefu, the founder of O'live Handmade Soaps, all beautifully handcrafted from natural produce found in the Western Cape. Click to visit their Facebook page.

Volhart

Amorie Daubern, founder of Volhart with her collection of great children's and adult's stationery and gift items, including the wonderful Lunch Box love letters. Click to visit their website.

This year’s Kamers Autumn 2015 event in Johannesburg may just have come to a close, but the enthusiastic buzz will last for sometime to come, amongst Jozi shoppers and lifestyle enthusiasts alike, plus the many entrepreneurs that were showcasing their fabulous products there.

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, Ghana shares her expertise as a panellist on The Guardian's Branding masterclass webchat

April 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

The 'The Guardian' UK hosted an online webchat entitled: 'Branding masterclass - how to tell your business story in a new market' - on 29 April between 12 and 1pm. Representing Africa was the highly talented Akosua Afriyie-Kumi the founder and creative director of AAKS, Ghana. AAKS is a luxury accessories brand that handcrafts bags utilising traditional weaving techniques. LoA joined the webchat and got to ask Akosua her thoughts on the current Afroluxe market trend.

Video: Jesslynn Schlamm founder of Lulu & Marula talks about her entrepreneurial journey

April 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Watch Jesslynn Schlamm's interview on the kykNET TV programme 'Winslyn' where she talks about her startup Lulu & Marula and her personal entrepreneurial journey and experiences.

Pietie Coetzee - The startup story of a retired sporting legend now building her company and brand

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Pietie Coetzee, founder of PC15 — **Pietie Coetzee**, founder of PC15

Pietie Coetzee is a field hockey legend who recently retired from the sport and has started a new phase in her life building a sports company and brand. As a top-level international sports woman, Pietie had an amazing, record-breaking career and she now harnesses that same passion and determination for her new business as a sportspreneur and in her advocacy work campaigning for cancer awareness.

10 tasks that a busy Entrepreneur can handover to a great Virtual Assistant

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Post by: Karen Wessels, co-founder and COO of VA Connect

I know how busy you get during the day, tying up loose ends and making sure the boat is still floating at the end of the day. The key to saving valuable hours in the day as a busy entrepreneur is quite clear – get the help you need by hiring a Virtual Assistant.

Wangechi Mwangi founder of Kenyan fintech startup Valuraha, has been awarded the 2015 Global Social Impact Award by GSEA

April 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

(Centre) Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder and chief executive officer of Valuraha (Kenya) — (Centre) **Wangechi Mwangi**, co-founder and chief executive officer of Valuraha (Kenya)

On April 17th the US-based Entrepreneurs' Organization's (EO) Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), the premier global competition honoring the top student entrepreneurs who have founded and are running revenue-generating businesses, named Wangechi Mwangi, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kenyan fintech startup Valuraha, as winner of the Global Social Impact Award. The award gala took place at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Johannesburg entrepreneurs harness the local urban market trend providing artisanal food and lifestyle shopping

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

When it comes to finding great places in which to hang-out and relax at the weekend, Johannesburg urbanites can now add to their lists a wealth of on-trend destinations downtown in the old converted industrial warehouses of the City, now transformed into artisanal food and entertainment spaces. The latest of these developments is The Sheds@1 Fox Street.

A window of opportunity opens for Africa’s fashion industry - the trick is to keep it open

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ngyenzi 'Nunu' Mugyenyi, co-founder and director of award-winning Ugandan fashion retail outlet, BOLD Kampala, gives her thoughts on the opportunities presented to the African fashion industry through the recent global interest in African print fabrics.

Dr Jennifer Riria named 'Africa Economy Builders – Entrepreneur of the Year for 2015'

April 27, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Dr. Jennifer Riria, founder and Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding has been named as the Africa Economy Builders – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 2015. She will be the first woman from East Africa to win this prestigious pan-Africa award that seeks to reward and recognize persons who have contributed significantly to Africa’s growth.

Quote of the Day

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

"The sad truth is there isn't a formula for success for women - or a path to the C-Suite. What we can do, though, is hear (women's) stories. We can hear how they built their businesses, what their business is and let them strut their stuff."

- Stephanie Ruhle is an anchor and managing editor for Bloomberg Television and editor-at-large for Bloomberg News, based in New York. She serves as co-host of "Market Makers," and regularly interviews industry titans. Prior to joining Bloomberg, Stephanie served as a Managing Director in Global Markets Senior Relationship Management at Deutsche Bank. There, she oversaw relationships for some of Deutsche Bank's largest hedge fund clients.

Rainat Komolafe - The startup story of a Nigerian entrepreneur taking all the stress out of shopping for your baby

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rainat Komolafe, founder of Babies Essence, Nigeria — **Rainat Komolafe**, founder of Babies Essence, Nigeria

For new parents-to-be in Nigeria, planning for the new arrival can be a little daunting, particularly if it is a first baby. So, entrepreneur Rainat Komolafe has created a startup business, Babies Essence, taking all the guess work and effort out of the process, providing a genuinely one-stop shop for everything needed to welcome the new member of the family into the world.

Young entrepreneurs supported with a creative showcase at Kamers Johannesburg

April 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Kamers Autumn 2015 at St John's School in Johannesburg

The rising consumer interest in young, creative startups and the appeal of the artisan 'maker & crafter' phenomenon is being acknowledged by the Kamers creative pop-up exhibitions and showcases. The Kamers Young Entrepreneurs Initiative is a conscious move to provide local, young and talented entrepreneurs with a subsidised exhibition opportunity at the hugely successful Kamers series of events across the country.

Viva La Revolución! Fashion Revolution in South Africa

April 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Blog by Georgie Polkinghorne

Fashion Revolution is an International Day celebrating sustainable and ethical fashion in key cities around the world. Cape Town commemorated its own Fashion Revolution Day on Friday 24th April at the Bello Studio at the Old Biscuit Mill. Cape Town’s fashion community, from editors to designers, gathered to celebrate the country's best sustainable and locally produced fashion. LoA fcovered this exciting event....

3 Inspiring women recognised at Ugandan MTN Awards

April 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

L-R: Kembambazi Sabiiti, Lindsay Handler and Barbara Ofwono — L-R: Kembambazi Sabiiti, Lindsay Handler and Barbara Ofwono

This month, Uganda is celebrating the achievements of three inspirational women, all recognised by the prestigious 2015 MTN Women in Business Awards. Barbara Ofwono, founder of Victorious Schools took home the much coveted overall award of MTN Women in Business SME CEO of the Year, applauded for her outstanding use of MTN Business’s overall service and value propositions to grow her business substantially.

Essential Read: 'Do Cool Sh*t' by Miki Agrawal

April 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Miki Agrawal, author, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and tv personality — **Miki Agrawal**, author, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, speaker and tv personality

Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After is less of a how-to book and rather more of a personal roller-coaster ride of a story on how one hip, trendy and highly ambitious entrepreneur did it for herself. It is unconventional in its approach, yet hugely inspirational, encouraging, funny and liberating for anyone reading it.

Tamara Watkins & Akila Hunte - The startup story of two passionate online fashion retailers opening global markets to African women designers

April 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tamara Watkins, co-founder of shopDOKU.com — **Tamara Watkins**, co-founder of shopDOKU.com

One of the key challenges often facing talented and ambitious African women fashion designers is how to access global markets and successfully position their brands to international buyers. Tamara Watkins and her business partner Akila Hunte have a solution - their passion for raising awareness of emerging design talent, particularly from the African continent, led the team to set up an online marketplace, shopDOKU.com, retailing the creations of emerging designers to buyers in North America and the United Kingdom.