Asma Dukanda - The startup story of a unique baby clothing entrepreneur celebrating traditional South African textile design

May 17, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Asma Dukanda, founder of Mokopu (South Africa) — **Asma Dukanda**, founder of Mokopu (South Africa)

The African marketplace for beautifully designed and crafted baby and children’s wear and toy products is continually growing, and with it are emerging some wonderful new design talents in this space. South African entrepreneur, Asma Dukanda, is just such a talent, creating a great new niche for herself and her clothing and products, all of which celebrate the best of the country’s traditional fabric design culture.

Laura Nyahuye - The startup story of an avant garde Zimbabwean designer challenging existing notions of jewellery design

May 17, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Laura Nyahuye, founder of AdornU (Zimbabwe) — **Laura Nyahuye**, founder of AdornU (Zimbabwe)

There is a real sense of drama about the design work of Laura Nyahuye and her brand, AdornU, who is challenging convention and creating sculptural adornments for the body that speak volumes for the individuality and confidence of the wearer.

Little Bo Baby Company launches its Mandela Day 'Remembrance Doll Competition'

May 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Gayathrie Schatz, founder of The Little Bo Baby Company — **Gayathrie Schatz**, founder of The Little Bo Baby Company

With Mandela Day approaching on 18 July 2015, Little Bo Baby Company, founded by the wonderfully creative Gayathrie Schatz, is aiming to make a difference by running a very special competition in remembrance of the great icon. Children from schools and children’s homes around South Africa are being invited to share what Nelson Mandela meant to them and submit their drawing for a 'Remembrance Doll Competition'. Five lucky children will have their drawing of Nelson Mandela turned into a plush toy!

Cutting-edge Zimbabwean accessory designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, scoops two top international design awards

May 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, founder Vanhu Vamwe — **Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri**, founder Vanhu Vamwe

2015 is turning out to be quite a year already for the hugely talented Zimbabwean accessory designer, Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri, who is now based in London’s fashion capital. She was recently nominated for three top design and fashion awards - the Zimbabwe Achievers Award ''Fashion Designer of the Year’’; the Women4Africa ''Fashion Designer of the Year’’; and the Abury and Harpers Bazaar Design Experience.

Robyn Victor - The startup story of a South African fashionpreneur building a resort-inspired lifestyle clothing brand

May 11, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Robyn Victor, founder of August — **Robyn Victor**, founder of August

South Africa currently has a rich fashion scene that is building a significant fan-base, both at home and abroad, and the August resort-inspired, lifestyle clothing brand is one of the labels that is getting noticed, for all the right reasons. August’s design philosophy is pure and sophisticated, inspired by both the resort and casual sides of the South African lifestyle, and appealing to the fashion-minded, modern woman.

Kofo Akinkugbe’s SecureID a market leader in smart card technology unveils a new online enrolment solution for Nigerian lawyers

May 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Kofo Akinkugbe, founder and ceo of SecureID, Nigeria — **Kofo Akinkugbe**, founder and ceo of SecureID, Nigeria

Nigerian specialist smart card company, SecureID, the brainchild of the highly-respected entrepreneur, Kofo Akinkugbe, is once again demonstrating why it is a leader in its field of expertise. This month, the company has unveiled a new pre-paid solution to aid the seamless enrolment of members to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja.

Essential Read: 'Playing Big' by Tara Mohr

May 10, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Tara Mohr, author of 'Playing Big' — **Tara Mohr**, author of 'Playing Big'

In her new book, Playing Big, groundbreaking women’s leadership expert and popular conference speaker, Tara Mohr, gives women the practical skills to voice and implement the changes they want to see—in themselves and in the world.

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.

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