Startup Story
In Angola, celebrities and regular fashionistas alike know that if there is a special outfit or accessory required, then Hathifa is the place to go. Founder Fátiha Manuel and her team are highly talented creatives building a reputation for delivering bespoke and ready-to-wear outfits that deliver on style.
LoA met with Fátiha Manuel in Angola recently to find out more.
What does your company do?
We specialize in making clothes and accessories such as remote-control holders, hand fans, handbags earrings etc in African materials. We also organize craft markets in Talatona and Embarcadouro do Mussulo where we normally have about 50 stalls selling all kinds of African art. We also dress the nation including celebrities such as award winner Yuri da Cunha, Paulo Flores and Show do Mês which is the biggest show in Angola and it happens every month.
“When I first started my journey, I had just left a multinational car company and having a one-year old son I decided to follow my passion which was to work with African materials.”
Who inspired you to start your company?
Definitely being a mum was one of my biggest inspirations. Also, my grandmother is a big inspiration as she raised 14 kids and grandkids with the money she earned by selling cooked food in the markets, eventually becoming a household name in Angola. She went from cooking in the market to cooking for the president of Angola. She has always been my inspiration.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We cater for all ages and all sizes. In October last year, we participated in the first Angolan plus Size Fashion Week. This was a huge event in Angola because of the stereotypes that the bigger girls can't be models - we broke this stereotype image.
“We also dress the nation including celebrities such as award winner Yuri da Cunha, Paulo Flores and Show do Mês which the biggest show in Angola and it happens every month.”
Tell us a little about your team
We are currently eight members of staff. I'm the CEO and designer and we have two dress makers, one handbag and accessories maker, one admin assistant, one driver and two sales assistants. We are all younger than 40 so I have a very young and bright team which are a bunch of pleasant people to work with.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
When I first started my journey, I had just left a multinational car company and having a one-year old son I decided to follow my passion which was to work with African materials. I started with bottle bags made with our beautiful materials, then I tried to do a bigger bag for myself. Before I knew it I started doing all sorts of bags, after that I needed to match my bags with a top or a skirt and that's when I started designing clothes. I currently have a shop in the beach front in Benfica which is a very affluent neighbourhood in Luanda. I also have my brand in the biggest supermarket in Angola Candando which I have just signed a deal with this year.
“Seeing people wearing my clothes and having my home accessories in their homes, that is definitely rewarding and It’s knowing that the people believe in what I dream.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We want to become international and open shops around the globe. I want to dress the nations.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing people wearing my clothes and having my home accessories in their homes, that is definitely rewarding and It’s knowing that the people believe in what I dream.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Get all the information you need from people who are doing what you want to do and remember feedback is the breakfast of champions.
Contact or follow Hathifa
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN | EMAIL fatiha.goubel.manuel@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
Fátiha Manuel is passionate about her business and about building a successful clothing and accessory brand that her customers are equally passionate about. She has built a reputation for her designs, her bespoke tailoring, and her ability to style her growing celebrity clientele. This is a business on the move, led by Fátiha who is a creative force to be reckoned with. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa