Lioness Launch / Independent publishing house, LovingKindness Boma in South Africa, launches new children’s books

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

LovingKindness Boma is an independent Publishing House of Mindful and Diverse books for children, launched by Swaady Martin in South Africa. It creates and sell children's books that entertain, educate and enrich the whole family. This month sees the launch of 7 books that will bring joy and understanding to readers.

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

March 18, 2020 Melanie Hawken

“Being a female entrepreneur in Africa is especially challenging, it’s not for the faint-hearted.”

Swaady Martin, founder of YSWARA

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

September 25, 2019 Melanie Hawken

"It was my dream to capture true African luxury, change the world's perception of Africa and produce a luxury brand that is truly African in origin, nature and tradition."

Swaady Martin, founder of Yswara

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

April 17, 2019 Melanie Hawken

"Our (African) artisans are not set-up to scale their activities and are often paralyzed by the prospect of growing their business beyond the “enough-to-live” stage."

Swaady Martin, founder and CEO of the SWAADY GROUP

LIONESS LAUNCH: Swaady Martin announces the launch of the Tounché, Global Consciousness Summit in South Africa on 1 December 2018

November 18, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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Swaady Martin, the entrepreneur and founder of luxury lifestyle brand YSWARA, is launching an exciting new initiative and one that is close to her heart. Following hot on the heels of two other exciting projects she has launched in 2018, her new company SHIFT WITHIN, and the publication of a collection of spiritual tales for children MALAIKA AND THE ANGEL, she is now launching Tounché, Global Consciousness Summit on Saturday 1st December 2018.

LIONESS CoLAB: Frazer Parfum X Nandipha Mntambo

June 20, 2018 Melanie Hawken

FRAZER PARFUM X NANDIPHA MNTAMBO

DISSONANCE --- AN ARTFUL FRAGRANCE BORN OUT OF COLLABORATION

Dissonance is a intriguing new perfume project born out of a co-lab between a talented local artist and a well known perfumer. Cape Town-based perfumer Tammy Frazer and Johannesburg-based artist Nandipha Mntambo have teamed up to create Dissonance, a bespoke fragrance that's sold with a pair of unique gold leafed lithographic prints.

LIONESS CoLAB: YSWARA X ARDMORE for Orange Babies

May 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

The ever creative Swaady Martin, founder of YSWARA has joined forces with the very beautiful and soulful brand ARDMORE to create the umSisi Collectors' Tea canister to support ORANGE BABIES, a charity whose ultimate aim is to achieve an HIV-free generation in Africa.

Changing the game - Swaady Martin, founder of YSWARA

February 21, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Source: Radio 702 | Published on Feb 21, 2018

Featuring Swaady Martin. Swaady Martin is the founder of YSWARA, a rapidly growing African luxury brand. YSWARA creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. The product range centres around exquisite teas sourced from across Africa, Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship.

100 LIONESSES: Swaady Martin, stylish purveyor of African luxury tea

December 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Swaady Martin is founder of YSWARA, a rapidly growing African luxury brand. YSWARA creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. The product range centres around exquisite teas sourced from across Africa, Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship. YSWARA is sold online and in 8 countries with different direct and indirect retail points.

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

November 28, 2017 Melanie Hawken

"The luxury industry is a great economic growth driver and can be a fantastic export champion... The luxury industry creates jobs and generates activities in a large variety of areas, including publishing, advertising, public relationship, tourism, real estate, culture and education."

- Swaady Martin, Founder and CEO of YSWARA

100 LIONESSES: Swaady Martin on developing strategies and tactics to expand an African global luxury brand

October 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken

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After an 11-year career at GE, Swaady Martin adopted many of the strategies and tactics instrumental to its successful African expansion to launch YSWARA, an African, global luxury brand.

Quote of the Day by Swaady Martin

October 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

“Africa is too often viewed as a place of low quality goods and lack of refinement”

Swaady Martin, founder of Yswara

Entrepreneur Advice from Swaady Martin: Building a luxury brand from scratch is not for the faint hearted

October 11, 2016 Melanie Hawken

What does it take to make it as a high-end luxury producer and brand?....

"First of all, you need to truly understand the industry. There is a big difference between aspiring to the luxury industry and actually understanding it. It is a very specific industry like any other. As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to create a compelling vision and passionately own the vision. Define the road map to execution and relentlessly drive the energy, talent and values necessary to ensure success. You need to become an execution machine. Building a venture from scratch is not for the faint hearted, you need to be courageous, tenacious and resilient. Never take no for an answer and be solution-oriented, constantly. You need to be passionate promoter for the development of global African luxury."

- Swaady Martin-Leke, an Ivorian entrepreneur, is founder of YSWARA, a growing African luxury brand. YSWARA creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. Products include gourmet tea, chocolates and home and accessories collections such as homeware, spoons, home fragrances and artisan jewellery. Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship. YSWARA is present in 4 countries -- South Africa, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and France -- with 15 different direct and indirect retail points.

Yswara, the luxury tea and lifestyle brand, celebrates the opening of its first store and tearoom in Johannesburg

September 18, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Luxury tea and lifestyle brand, Yswara, founded by the inspirational entrepreneur Swaady Martin, has just opened its first store and tearoom in Maboneng "Place of light", Johannesburg. Since its launch 3.5 years ago, it is the first time YSWARA has had the opportunity to share its vision and experience with customers directly. It is a proud milestone for the brand and the beginning of its direct retail journey.

AKRAFO, a new socially responsible gourmet brand launched by the SWAADY Group

April 5, 2016 Melanie Hawken

A new and lovingly created, socially responsible gourmet brand, AKRAFO, has just been launched by one of the leading AfroLuxe exponents on the continent, the SWAADY Group, headed by inspirational founder, Swaady Martin. AKRAFO offers a wide range of organic and natural products with wellness properties including teas & herbal teas, honey, jams, mineral water, oils, spices & condiments.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to the Queen of Afroluxe, Swaady Martin, founder of Yswara, the luxury African tea and teatime accessories brand, about taking her brand experience to the next level

November 21, 2015 Melanie Hawken

The Yswara luxury African tea and teatime accessories brand is a real celebration of the continent, with its essence created from the ingredients and narratives that are so unique to Africa. It is this essence that makes the Yswara brand so unique.

Entrepreneur Advice from Swaady Martin: Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs

August 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Top advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs trying to make it in Africa....

"Before you start anything, my advice is to find your passion and pursue it passionately. In addition, as an entrepreneur, you need to be able to create a compelling vision, to passionately own the vision, to define the roadmap to execution, and to bring together and relentlessly drive the energies, the talents and the values necessary to ensure success. You need to become an execution machine. Building a venture from scratch is not for the faint-hearted, you need to be courageous, tenacious, have perseverance and resilience. Never take no for an answer and be solution-oriented, constantly."

- Swaady Martin, is founder of YSWARA, a growing African luxury brand that creates elegant, high-end products using the continent’s natural resources, all produced by African artisans. Complimenting their hand-selected tea blends, Yswara also offers a range of luxury tea accessories. Swaady aims to capture a true spirit of African luxury by reviving Africa’s endangered cultural heritage and unique ancestral craftsmanship.

Entrepreneur Advice from Swaady Martin: Building a brand takes creativity and lots of hard work

January 22, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of YSWARA — **Swaady Martin-Leke**, founder of YSWARA

It takes creativity, commitment and hard work to build a successful brand....

"We are aiming at creating a globally recognized luxury brand so there is never a moment of rest. We are and need to constantly push the limits of excellence, creativity and beauty. We are constantly benchmarking ourselves to the global brands and know we still have some work to do."

Swaady Martin nominated an Emerging Leader by Aspen Institute France

December 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

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A big LoA community congratulations to Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of Yswara the African luxury tea brand, who was recently nominated an Emerging Leader by the Aspen Institute France under the patronage of President François Hollande. Félicitations Swaady!