Pichulik celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary with the launch of an iconic Silver Jewellery Collection

April 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Pichulik is an ethical jewellery atelier based in Cape Town, South Africa and founded by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, and is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary in style - with the launch of a new Silver Collection featuring five of its most iconic jewellery pieces. Inspired by ancient cultures and mythology, Pichulik uses the language of African artistry and ornamentation to create sculptural accessories that celebrate empowering feminine narratives. Each piece is a talisman, handcrafted from its signature rope, combined with cast-brass elements, precious stones and unexpected organic materials, to create distinctive and unique forms.

LIONESS LAUNCH: Pan-African lifestyle brand, Afropian, launches its exciting new website

March 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

In March 2023, Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is launching its brand new website which is a window into everything Afropian: products, processes, artisans, and stories. The business is focused on showcasing 100%, proudly hand-made in Africa clothing, fashion accessories and home decor. The mission is to make you Wear Africa Proudly!

Lioness Launch / South African upcycling business, plasticity, launches its new Work Tote, an upcycled tote bag for working people

February 26, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Tessa O’ Halloran, founder, plasticity (South Africa)

Discarded plastic waste is a problem for the planet and for humankind as a whole, and the need to find sustainable solutions to transforming that waste into useful products has never been greater. In South Africa, ecopreneur Tessa O’ Halloran, founder of plasticity. is playing her part in finding those solutions. She is launching a great new Work Tote as part of her business range of upcycled products.

Lioness Launch / Mozambican luxury accessory design house, Atelier Taíla Carrilho, launches its eye-catching new R.I.S.E. collection

January 29, 2023 Melanie Hawken

For style conscious people who want their accessories to stand out from the crowd, the newly launched R.I.S.E. collection from Mozambican luxury accessory design house, Atelier Taíla Carrilho is a must-have this year. Founder and designer, Taíla Carrilho, creates handmade, truly eye-catching fashion accessories for women and men, utilizing local materials and labour. The new R.I.S.E. collection is inspired by the act of being reborn after a fall.

Lioness Launch / Mozambican people management consulting business, Mbira Advisory, launches new employee wellbeing service

January 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

People management consulting specialist, Shádia Gafur Chachine, founder of Mbira Advisory in Mozambique, is passionate about contributing to the wellbeing of employees. Her business is launching a new service which makes a diagnosis to understand the bottlenecks related to behavioral and inter-personal skills of the company's employees. Thereafter, it creates programs and activities aimed at mental, physical and psychological health. Namely 15 mins of yoga, breathing exercises, simple postures; anti-stress exercises, conversations about different themes such as healthy habits and nutrition, experiences, blockages, fears and beliefs, etc.

Lioness Launch / South African award-winning upcycling business, Lilly Loompa, introduces recycled plastic desk to range

December 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Cape Town Designer and founder of Lilly Loompa, Lizl Naude (from Paarl), is known far and wide for her quirky, upcycled décor items. But more than that, she is known for her purposeful and environmentally-consciousness approach to design. In 2020, during the pandemic, she launched her “My Africa Lap Desk” made with discarded, waste material. It is currently their most popular product. In November 2022, Lizl decided to make the evolution from wood to recycled plastic for the next generation of the desk and launched it to market.

Lioness Launch / Organic Naturals Skincare in Botswana launches its new ‘one-stop’ toning serum for balanced skin tone

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Organic Naturals Skincare, the Botswana-based business and brand founded by entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, is launching its new Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum in October 2022. The scientific potency of the Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum is proven to brighten and clear the skin by reducing hyperpigmentation; reduce fine lines by improving skin roughness, colour and elasticity by strengthening the skin barrier; reduce severe acne by fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing sebum production; and hydrate the skin.

Lioness Launch / New event venue launched in Ghana focused on customer relaxation needs

October 2, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Patience Maame Mensah, founder, Self Indulgence Company Limited (Ghana)

For customers looking for an event venue in Accra, Ghana for that special occasion, then Patience Maame Mensah, founder of Self Indulgence Company Limited, the multi-faceted home maintenance and property management agency with specialist nanny services and events offerings, has launched an exciting new venue.

Lioness Launch / Lifestyle brand, Africana Woman, launches its first international retreat for women

September 18, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Chulu Chansa, founder, Africana Woman (Zambia)

Africana Woman is a lifestyle brand, founded by Chulu Chansa in Zambia, that helps women of African descent connect, collaborate and celebrate. Chulu believes in pursuing holistic health in order to attract true wealth. The brand’s range of products support women in their mental, emotional and spiritual health, with Retreats, Workshops, Courses, and Community on offer. This month sees the announcement of the first International Retreat to Marrakech, Morocco. The Retreat is slated for 2-7 July, 2023 and will take the women through a signature program called KNOW your Roots, Grow your Purpose. This is a guided, deep self-reflection where women will rest, reflect and reconnect with themselves.

Lioness Launch / Top Malawian fashion label launches its new 100 Year Plan Collection

August 21, 2022 Melanie Hawken

The Lilly Alfonso fashion design label, created by its founder of the same name, has evolved over the years to become one of the top fashion labels in Malawi and is slowly becoming a global fashion brand. Building on its success to date, the Lilly Alfonso brand is introducing an exciting new clothing collection for men and women called the 100 Year Plan collection.

Lioness Launch / New motivational book launched in Botswana to inspire people in their daily lives

July 31, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For those people who are looking for some daily motivation and inspiration in their lives, entrepreneur Gaolapelwe Badumedi Matsetse-Mpete, founder of Bonton Botswana (Pty) Ltd, is launching a new book which promises to deliver motivation a-plenty to readers. The book is titled, “In Her Own Voice”, and combines personal memoir with motivational quotes to live by each day.

Lioness Launch / New book launched to raise children’s awareness of differently-abled and deaf people and to celebrate sign language

July 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For children, the first day at a new school is always challenging, but even more so when you are deaf. Author and entrepreneur, Nancy Gaylard, founder of Not Just Consulting based in South Africa, has written a new book ‘Once Upon A Sign: Ayen’s First Day’, which aims to expose children, during their formative years, to differently abled and deaf people in particular. With this wonderful new book, she hopes it will start a conversation about what makes each of us different and how this difference should be celebrated.

Lioness Launch / Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand, Kunjina, launches new concept collection

June 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kunjina Tesfaye, founder, Kunjina (Ethiopia)

Kunjina, a unique Ethiopian ready-to-wear clothing brand that mainly caters to women within the age range of 25-40 and founded by Kunjina Tesfaye, is launching its new concept collection this month. The collection named UDET, a Geez word meaning cycle, is Inspired by Kunjina's personal experience. The collection revolves around topics like fear, productivity guilt and growth. It shows the process of self-doubt, transformation and self-actualization using the metamorphosis cycle of a butterfly as a metaphor.

Lioness Launch / New online engagement ring design service launched in South Africa

June 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Preposal is a new online service founded by Lucinda Dabbs in South Africa that helps your partner surprise you with the engagement ring of your dreams. Her newly launched platform allows you to create a profile and you’ll be guided through a set of questions to help you narrow down the specifics of your perfect engagement ring. Then, when it’s time to propose, your partner simply logs in on their side and downloads your Preposal mood board. This single-page tool contains all the information and vocabulary they need to confidently make this life-changing purchase. Thanks to Preposal, you can say yes to them and to your dream piece of jewellery.

Lioness Launch / The pioneering telemedicine platform, Dr Moz, launches in Mozambique

May 28, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Dr.Moz, the pioneering telemedicine platform launched by Sabina Ali and Dr. Natacha Amin in Mozambique, is a digital platform that aims to assist any user and facilitate on services in the areas of health and well-being. One of the objectives is to reduce the distance the population has to travel to find a medical service in the country, but also to decongest some hospital services.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s integrated brand strategy consultancy, Maruapula Brand, launches new suite of tools for businesses looking to enhance their brand performance

May 7, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kelebogile Makwala, founder, Maruapula Brand (South Africa)

Maruapula Brand is an integrated brand strategy consultancy based in South Africa, and focused on working with business and brand leaders who are looking to invest in and enhance their internal and external brand position and performance. Founded by entrepreneur Kelebogile Makwala, Maruapula Brand helps businesses create meaningful connections that get their brands seen, heard and valued by customers. The latest launch by Kelebogile and her team is a suite of strategic frameworks and brand tools to help businesses looking to enhance their brand performance and customer connectivity.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Job Crystal launches new AI recruitment tool to support SMEs and job seekers

March 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Kelly and Sasha, the owners of Job Crystal in South Africa, found that in their experience with starting businesses, the process of finding staff took far too long, and that this was often the breaking point for many businesses. After further research they found that for smaller companies, agencies were often too expensive and didn’t provide realistic payment plans. In short, there was no specific agency support tailored for SMEs. This led into the core drive of Job Crystal, their new AI recruitment tool to support SMEs and job seekers. They have a passion for helping people find jobs, combined with a focus on the SME market, with an agency who understands cash flow and an AI tool that understands time.

Lioness Launch / South Africa’s Black Beard Group prepares to launch its new online store

March 4, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Bontle Mmapela, founder, Black Beard Group (South Africa)

Black Beard Group is an interior design and decor boutique firm in South Africa, founded by entrepreneur Bontle Mmapela. In a drive to deliver innovative and practical solutions to its clients, Bontle and her team utilize their experience across the fields of interior design, decor and project management. The team are currently preparing to launch a new online store selling wallpapers, rugs, vases, sculptures, art pieces, candles, portraits, lamps and coffee tables.

Lioness Launch / Picnic lovers in Mozambique are in for a treat as Azura launches its specialist picnic hamper sales and rental service

February 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

For all those people who love nothing more than getting outdoors into the fresh air with family, friends, and colleagues, then a picnic is the way to go, and in Mozambique, entrepreneurs Yolanda Matine and Sheila Loonat, cofounders of Azura, have just what you need. Their business specializes in selling and renting picnic hampers with the objective of offering unforgettable experiences for all occasions.

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