Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer

May 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Demii Design, an Ethiopian clothing design and manufacturing business creating beautiful, high quality cotton garments

Mekdes Mesfin's story begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was born and raised. Today, she stands as the founder and ceo of Demii Design, a clothing line that represents a significant chapter on her entrepreneurial journey, which also includes her involvement in two other ventures within the fashion sector. While her academic background is rooted in civil engineering and business management, disciplines she pursued at university, Ms. Mesfin's professional path diverged from the conventional corporate trajectory those degrees might suggest. She launched the business during the Covid pandemic in 2019.

Emilia Chisango, a multi-faceted business empire builder

May 4, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Emilia Chisango, founder and Chairman, Hempac Group (Zimbabwe)

Hempac Holdings, a business group offering solutions and services needed by local communities, and creating jobs in Zimbabwe

Emilia Chisango, a trail blazing chartered accountant and multi-award winner is the visionary founder and Chairman of Hempac Group. With just over 3 decades of experience in both corporate and entrepreneurship worlds, Emilia has made a mark through the journey travelled. At 27, she broke barriers as the first black female partner at KPMG, also becoming the youngest ever partner at the firm. At the age of 36, she went on to make history as the first female president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Zimbabwe (ICAZ) in its 90 year old history then, and also became its youngest ever president. The Hempac Group comprises a fitness equipment retail outfit, a school (comprising ECD up to high school), clothing manufacturing unit, and the Agrobusiness unit. Having founded Hempac in 2009, Emilia only left the corporate world to concentrate on her businesses in 2021. Today, the business has created jobs for 100 people.

Creseldah Cassandra Ndlovu, a social entrepreneur committed to skills development

January 11, 2025 Melanie Hawken

CLM Clothing & Textile, a South African social enterprise specializing in bulk cloth manufacturing and training development

Creseldah Cassandra Ndlovu is the founder and director of CLM Clothing and Textile in South Africa, a social enterprise that specializes in bulk cloth manufacturing and training development. The business was started in 2016 and legally registered in 2020, and today employs 21 people. In addition to the production site, the business also has a training and development site, where accredited sewing training development skills programs are delivered. Creseldah is a passionate Community builder, Philanthropist and Innovative Social Entrepreneur. She is a multi-award winner both locally and internationally and was recently recognised with an Empowerment Award of the Year by the African Women Innovation and Entrepreneur Forum.

Fátima Ernesto, a Mozambican entrepreneur creating customized T-Shirts for her customers

January 9, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Fátima Armando Ernesto, founder, Faes (Mozambique)

Fátima Armando Ernesto is the founder of Faes in Mozambique, a digital graphics and t-shirt sales business specialising in creating t-shirts to each customer's taste. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, she was a Road and Bridge Construction Technician at IIM, Public Relations and Leadership Technician at Wake Up, Aspirant at Rotaract Clube de Maputo, and worked as a Site Clerk at SS Construção where she provided services in the following roles: Archivist (Management and control of files), Assistant to the Warehouse Manager of the main Shipyard, Responsible for diesel control (purchase and sale), Formwork Clerk (Rent, purchase and sale of material).

Veronique-Chantelle Mew, a South African entrepreneur building a superior quality clothing brand tailored for tall women

December 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Veronique-Chantelle Mew, founder, Tall Story (South Africa)

Veronique-Chantelle Mew is a Chartered Accountant, a certified Life Coach and Personal Trainer, a breast cancer survivor, and the founder of Tall Story, based in South Africa. While working as a Chartered Accountant in the corporate world, she felt limited by conforming to someone else's vision and knew deep down that she wanted to start something of her own. In 2016, she resigned from her directorship position at an international company, and decided to embark on her entrepreneurial journey. She was determined to pursue her passion, knowing that this was where her heart truly belonged. Veronique launched Tall Story in 2022.

Lilian Maira, a Kenyan sustainable fashion brand builder creating high quality, uniquely designed, and handcrafted bags

December 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Lilian Maira, founder, Pambo Letu (Kenya)

Lilian Maira is a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion with nearly two decades of experience in the Kenyan fashion industry. As the founder of Pambo Letu, Lilian combines traditional African craftsmanship with modern design to create eco-friendly, handcrafted bags. She collaborates with a team of talented artisans to produce high-quality products using sustainable materials, empowering local communities through fair wages and global exposure. Driven by a deep commitment to environmental and social impact, Lilian continues to champion ethical practices and innovative solutions in the fashion world. The business was launched in 2019 and has created jobs for 15 people.

Masego Madzwamuse, building a design label blending sustainable fashion with the art of storytelling in Botswana

November 10, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Masego Madzwamuse, founder and head designer, Bola Nangabe (Botswana)

Masego Madzwamuse is a writer, a designer with a deep passion for African prints, and the founder and head designer of Bola Nangabe in Botswana. She created her design label to blend sustainable fashion principles with the art of storytelling through African textiles. Inspired by the hues and textures of the Kgalagadi desert, her luxury brand embodies the richness of desert landscapes. Using carefully chosen fabrics from across the continent, Masego creates clothing for individuals on the move, eager to embrace their authenticity. Each piece weaves a story of beauty and resilience, much like the vibrant burst of color that emerges with the first rains in the desert.

Sinna Duarte, a Mozambican creative entrepreneur building a Capulana inspired jewellery and handbag brand

November 10, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Sinna Duarta, founder, Handmade Moz (Mozambique)

Handmade Moz is a Mozambican accessory brand founded by creative entrepreneur Sinna Duarta, that focuses on the design, manufacture and marketing of a unique range of handmade jewellery and handbags. She uses Capulana as the fabric source of inspiration for many of her unique pieces, something that resonates with her local customers.

Genet Kebede, a pioneering Ethiopian fashion & textile brand builder

October 6, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Paradise Fashion, a business celebrating Ethiopia’s proud hand-woven textile heritage and creating sustainable employment for local craftspeople

Genet Kebede, founder of Paradise Fashion, was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From a young age, she loved fashion and the rich Ethiopian textiles she found in her own culture, yet she appreciated the inspiration coming from other countries and specifically the rich design heritage of Italy. In pursuit of her dreams, she took the opportunity to study fashion design and garment construction in Italy and then Argentina. However, Genet always knew she would return to her home. Living through the significant political disruptions that led to near famine for much of Ethiopia during her childhood, she believed she had an opportunity to contribute to her country. She wanted to help the many people, particularly women, she saw in difficult circumstances in her city. She also wanted to share the beauty of her country’s rich weaving traditions with the world.

Kearoma Rantao, an online fashion retail brand builder in Botswana

August 23, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Kearoma Rantao, founder, Cheri & Auti Fashions (Botswana)

Cheri & Auti Fashions is a clothing fashion label established in 2021 by Kearoma Rantao in Gabarone, Botswana. A Jazz artist, singer, and performing artist, Kearoma decided during COVID-19 to start a fashion line called Cheri & Auti Fashions. Today, the business is an online retail store and has been making and selling mainly women’s casual wear since it launched.

Márcia Nangy O’Connell, a Mozambican entrepreneur reimagining traditional design

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

DATHONGA, a sustainable design business merging traditional techniques with contemporary artistic sensibilities in Mozambique

Márcia Nangy O’Connell, or Marcita as she is affectionately known, is the founder and artistic director of Dathonga Designs in Mozambique. Since 2010, she has established herself in the world of Mozambican design. Dathonga has participated in national and international fairs, showcasing the beauty of Mozambican crafts to audiences in South Africa, USA, Denmark, Spain, Germany and, recently, at South African Fashion Week. Márcia’s commitment goes beyond her own brand. In 2010, she created Galeria Dathonga in Inhambane, providing a platform for other Mozambican and African artists to showcase their work.

Rejane & Krissie Gwynne, two South African entrepreneurs building an ethical fashion brand celebrating African textiles

August 3, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Rejane Gwynne and Krissie Gwynne, co-founders, OYOO Style (South Africa)

Rejane Gwynne and partner Krissie Gwynne are co-founders of OYOO Style in South Africa, an ethical fashion and homeware range made from African textiles. The business supports skills development for local seamstresses, and also has a focus on sustainability with its no waste approach to production. The entrepreneurial pair met in the UK and after 16 years abroad they returned to South Africa to be closer to family and to explore the beautiful African continent. OYOO Style was created in 2021 and has 3 employees.

Ade Hassan, a lingerie visionary for women of colour

July 28, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Nubian Skin, the first brand to make inclusive, skin-tone undergarments catered to women of colour.

Ade Hassan is the Nigerian/British founder of Nubian Skin, the first brand to make inclusive, skin-tone undergarments catered to women of colour. The business also makes skin-tone softies (post-surgery prosthetics for mastectomy patients). Launched in 2014, and headquartered in London, Nubian Skin delivers worldwide and looks forward to growing the company’s offering and expanding its reach.

Irina Samade, a Mozambican serial entrepreneur manufacturing accessories using natural resources

July 4, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Irina Samade, Founder and Designer, Rawá (Mozambique)

Irina Samade is the Founder and Designer of the Rawá brand in Mozambique. She has worked to build this brand for the past 4 years, and in addition to Rawá, she is also the Founder and Floral Designer of Frangipani Flores. She has worked in this area of business for 15 years and is now a 41 year old entrepreneur. Irina is passionate about flowers and the idea of being able to use natural resources in art, consciously using what nature offers and discards.

Arline Ferrão, a Mozambican entrepreneur building a green alternative to disposable bags

June 30, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Arline Ferrão, founder and managing partner, Kasunga (Mozambique)

Arline Ferrão is the founder and managing partner of Kasunga, a 100% Mozambican company and brand, committed to sustainability, offering personalized reusable bags and bags, produced with exceptional care, combining environmentally friendly materials and traditional African fabrics. Well-being and sustainability, in its environmental, social and human components, are at the center of its actions on different fronts. In addition to Kasunga, Arline is a psychologist focused on the area of mental health and well-being at work.

Elisa Marcos Ouana, a Mozambican creative entrepreneur turning upcycling into a design brand

June 2, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Elisa Marcos Ouana, founder, Ariel EcoArte e Serviços, EI (Mozambique)

Elisa Marcos Ouana is the founder of Mozambican upcycled accessory brand, Ariel EcoArte e Serviços, EI. She is also studying for a degree in Environmental Engineering at Eduardo Mondlane University. The daughter of a tailor and passionate about sewing since childhood, at the age of 13 she started her career as an entrepreneur in the sewing sector. She reused the scraps of fabric and capulana that her father discarded and made items for girls (hair ribbons, bows, cat ties, pencil cases, etc.). At the age of 18, she discovered the world of upcycling and made her first backpack out of recycled jeans. Since then, Elisa has had the opportunity to expand her business and register her company. It’s a journey with a lot of learning and improvement. With her business, she aims to reach many more people of all age groups and be able to generate sources of employment for more women.

Oluwadunsin Bolaji, an accessory brandbuilder in Nigeria celebrating African heritage

May 26, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Oluwadunsin Bolaji, founder and Creative Director, DunsinCraft Collection LTD (Nigeria)

Oluwadunsin Bolaji is the founder and Creative Director of DunsinCraft Collection LTD, an Afrocentric accessory brand in Nigeria. With over 7 years’ experience, Oluwadunsin's passion for promoting African culture through fashion accessories is truly inspiring. By designing bags and jewellery using indigenous African fabrics, she showcases the richness of our African heritage and the immense potential embedded in our fabrics.

Mirene Guitiche, a Mozambican creative entrepreneur building a business that celebrates the art of sewing and craftwork

April 14, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Mirene Guitiche, founder and CEO, Miregui Art (Mozambique)

Mirene Guitiche is the founder and CEO of Miregui Art, a company that has existed since 2020 and is dedicated to creative sewing and crafts in Mozambique. She is an entrepreneur equipped with skills and is very talented, in addition to being a Management student (UEM) in the country.

A Mirene Guitiche tem 23 anos é estudante de Gestão (UEM), é fundadora e CEO da Miregui art, uma empresa existente desde 2020 que se dedica a costura criativa e artesanato. Empreendedora munida de competências e muito talentosa.

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera, a leading bridalwear and bespoke fashion designer in Malawi

March 31, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera, founder, Nanas (Malawi)

Alinafe Fridah Mapwesera is the founder of Nanas closet in Malawi, a business launched in 2014 and creating beautiful bridal dresses and other bespoke wear for those memorable wedding occasions. Customers have come to know Alinafe for creating beautiful wedding dresses that celebrate African culture and she sells her designs all over the world. She happily mixes elegance with different cultures in her designs, whilst always taking care of the environmental impact of her work which is important to Alinafe. For example, she gave away 100 dresses to kids made from old materials. Her work is about making things well, keeping traditions alive, and helping the planet.

Lioness Launch / 1964 unveils "Nostalgia" Collection: A Tribute to Simplicity, Comfort, and Cultural Heritage

March 21, 2024 Melanie Hawken

1964, the renowned women's clothing brand founded by Olakunmi Oni, who is also its Creative Director, is dedicated to promoting wellness through fashion, and is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest collection, "Nostalgia." This collection marks the brand's official return to the market, blending timeless designs with modern flair and celebrating the beauty found in simplicity.

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