Sera Holland - The startup story of a talented textile designer elevating handmade fabrics to an artform

May 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Sera Holland, founder of Handmade by Me — **Sera Holland**, founder of Handmade by Me

For women entrepreneurs, their personal journeys to setting up their businesses and realising their dreams are always unique - some are very focused on long-held identified goals, whilst others are almost accidental or organic in nature. South African-based textile designer, Sera Holland, falls into the latter category of an entrepreneur who never set out to be in business, but ended up discovering a love of textile printing and built the most amazing business around it.

KAMERS 2015 Autumn Expo Showcases the Best of Women Makers and Crafters in Cape Town, South Africa

May 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Blog by Georgie Polkinghorne, LoA Cape Town City Reporter

Classic architectural design met innovation and handcrafted creativity at the KAMERS Autumn 2015 Cape Town showcase at the majestic Cape Town City Hall in South Africa this month.

Rise up like a lioness

May 9, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Guest Blog by Clare Kagimu, a talented Ugandan-born, Interior Architect and Designer, now resident in the UK shares her insights on the new creative force of women in design.

Why the VA is an entrepreneur’s best friend

May 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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

“Grow your business without growing your staff” – now wouldn’t that be the ideal way to build and grow your amazing start-up. And the best part? With the help of a Virtual Assistant, or as we are more fondly known as - VA’s, it is now completely possible and within reach.

Special Offer! Download 2 FREE chapters of the Award-Winning book 'UNDETERRED' by Rania Anderson

May 8, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rania Anderson author of the award-winning book UNDTERRED: The Six Success Habits of Women in Emerging Economies will be visiting and speaking in South Africa during May. Ahead of her visit she has made available a FREE download of 2 chapters of her book. Make sure to get your download of this great read and to book your seat at one of her presentations!

Teta Isibo - The startup story of a Rwandan designer creating bold African fusion jewellery with a contemporary edge

May 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Teta Isibo, founder of Inzuki Designs — **Teta Isibo**, founder of Inzuki Designs

Rwandan jewellery and accessory brandbuilder, Teta Isibo, is passionate about bold design and harnessing the creative craftsmanship talent of local women artisans to create unique pieces that have an instantly recognisable Inzuki Design style and aesthetic.

Ashley Heather - The startup story of an innovative jewellery designer reclaiming precious metals from computer circuit boards as source materials

May 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ashley Heather, founder of Ashley Heather Jewellery — **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.

The female Kenyan brewer taking on a global drinks giant

May 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tabitha Karanja, founder & CEO of Keroche Breweries (Kenya) — **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

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.

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