the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
Ashley Heather, founder of Ashley Heather Jewellery
When LoA heard about South African jewellery designer, Ashley Heather, and how she is creating beautiful, handcrafted and contemporary jewellery pieces from, of all things, precious metals reclaimed from computer circuit boards, we just had to find out more.
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Tabitha Karanja, founder & CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya)
Source: BBC News | By Maina Waruru | 4 May 2015
It was a thirst for success that saw Tabitha Karanja put herself in the role of a David taking on a Goliath. The 50 year old is the founder and boss of the only large-scale brewery in Kenya actually owned by a Kenyan. Mrs Karanja, one of only a handful of female brewery owners across Africa, set up the business - Keroche Breweries - with her husband back in 1997. Initially making a fortified wine, the company has since moved into spirits and, from 2008, making beer
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Kara Furter & Mary-Anne Grobler, founders of Matter of Fakt exquisite handcrafted jewellery. Click to visit their website.
Asma Dukanda, founder of Mokopu produces and creates exquisite baby products, clothes and toys, including the fabulous TeePee. Click to visit their website.
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.
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.
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Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, Ghana
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.
Read moreWatch 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.
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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.
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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.
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(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.
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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.
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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.
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Dr. Jennifer Riria, founder and Group CEO of Kenya Women Holding
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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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....
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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.
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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.
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