Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox - The startup story of two women creating a unique manufacturing business celebrating Uganda’s unique Ankole cow horn

December 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox, founders of Olivia Knox (Uganda) — **Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox**, founders of Olivia Knox (Uganda)

The world’s discerning consumers have become so much more conscious about the provenance and sustainability of the products they buy, particularly in the luxury market. By creating new luxury markets for products crafted from East Africa’s unique Ankole horn, Olivia Byanyima and Shanley Knox through their company, Olivia Knox, are improving the economic value of this culturally significant breed, providing incentive for Ugandan ranchers to continue their ancient practice of raising the Ankole.

Jaki Kweka - The startup story of a Tanzanian artisan chocolatier who is creating the country’s first gourmet chocolate brand

November 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Jaki Kweka, co-founder of Chocolate Mamas (Tanzania) — **Jaki Kweka**, co-founder of Chocolate Mamas (Tanzania)

With the launch of the #Choose Artisan campaign recently, the spotlight has been shining firmly on those women artisans in Africa who are creating world-class luxury products right here on the continent. Chocolate Mamas Gourmet Tanzanian Chocolate Company is an entrepreneurial startup making real waves in the luxury artisan chocolate space in Africa, and its co-founder, Jaki Kweka, has big ambitions for the brand going forward.

AAKS in Ghana launches its new handbag collection and its new online store

November 25, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of AAKS, Ghana — **Akosua Afriyie-Kumi,** founder of AAKS, Ghana

One of our favourite Afroluxe handbag designers, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, founder of Ghanaian brand A A K S, has just launched her much-anticipated Spring/Summer 2016 collection, and its great new online store - www.aaksonline.com - and both were well worth the wait! The new online store has been beautifully designed and is as eye-catching as all the AAKS handbag designs are. The beautiful and refreshing new collection itself reunites Akosua’s impeccable eye for detail, with superb craftsmanship and a raw visceral energy of new shapes.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Babette Van der Walt who has turned her passion for artisanal bread into a business

November 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Babette Van der Walt, founder of Babette's Bread (South Africa)

LoA had the great fortune to stumble across a great new artisanal bread baker this week in the trendy neighbourhood of Maboneng, Johannesburg. Babette Van der Walt, the founder of Babette's Bread is using traditional French bread baking techniques to produce some of the most wonderful tasting and looking baguettes you will find outside of Paris.

Bomanga Ngoi Longango - The startup story of an entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo capturing the essence of African cooking in a jar

November 13, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bomanga Ngoi Longango, founder Evelea Foods (Democratic Republic of Congo) — **Bomanga Ngoi Longango**, founder Evelea Foods (Democratic Republic of Congo)

There is nothing more evocative of a country than its cuisine, and one woman entrepreneur from the Democratic Republic of Congo is taking the essence of her country and bottling it in jars for a European audience. Bomanga Ngoi Longango and her company Evelea, are capturing the flavours of African vegetables such as cassava leaves, amaranth leaves, and other traditional vegetables in ready to eat form, preserved in jars.

Agata Karolina - the startup story of a South African based epicene perfume house creating exquisite small batch perfumes

November 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Agata Karolina, founder of House of Gozdawa (South Africa) — **Agata Karolina**, founder of House of Gozdawa (South Africa)

There is something very evocative about the world of perfumery, taking its inspiration from nature and creating a scent that makes the wearer experience a particular sense of wellbeing and confidence. South Africa now has a second perfumier to celebrate, Agata Karolina, founder of House of Gozdawa in Cape Town, who is creating something really special and unique to Africa.

PODCAST: Bushera Bashir shares the rise of the Trebene brand and the Paris showcase of her 2016 collection

October 29, 2015 Melanie Hawken

LoA chatted to Bushera Bashir the creative founder of luxury accessory brand, Trebene, who are exciting the fashion world with their beautiful cashmere scarves, at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the exciting journey the brand is currently taking as she launches her 2016 collection globally to much acclaim.

PODCAST: Lucy Beard's journey from city lawyer to launching an artisanal gin distillery in Cape Town

October 28, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa) — **Leigh Lisk and Lucy Beard**, founders of Hope on Hopkins (South Africa)

LoA chatted to Lucy Beard, who is the co-founder of Hope on Hopkins together with her husband Leigh Lisk, during a busy day at their exhibition stand at the recent Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg. She shared the roller-coaster ride that is the startup experience, and how becoming an entrepreneur has its challenges, but is well worth the journey from a personal, life-enhancing perspective.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Anna Richerby, a woman happily reinventing the ancient craft of beadwork

October 26, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Anna Richerby, founder of Beloved Beadwork (South Africa). Image: Michael Griffin — **Anna Richerby**, founder of Beloved Beadwork (South Africa). Image: Michael Griffin

Founded in 2009, Beloved Beadwork is a company of twelve women passionately committed to the preservation and elaboration of the beadwork tradition. LoA caught up with founder and designer Anna Richerby at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in Johannesburg to learn about this inspiring venture. Listen to our fascinating interview.

Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera - The startup story of a dynamic Rwandan design team with a passion for their country’s unique aesthetic and talented artisans

October 4, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda) — **Linda Mukangoga & Candy Basomingera**, founders of haute | baso (Rwanda)

There is something about young women entrepreneurs in Africa who not only are on a mission to promote the art and design culture they love, but who also see it as a vehicle for positive change. Linda Mukangoga and Candy Basomingera, the founders of haute | baso in Rwanda, are creating contemporary design products that celebrate the craftsmanship of local and regional artisans from their country. The result is dynamic, vibrant and uniquely beautiful.

Femi Olayebi - The startup story of a Nigerian bespoke luxury handbag designer who has created a whole world of bags to global acclaim

September 23, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Femi Olayebi, founder of My World of Bags and the Femi Handbags brand (Nigeria)

In the competitive world of global accessory and handbag design, one Nigerian designer is making the world sit up and take notice, with her unique take on beautiful, bespoke, handcrafted pieces that celebrate the art of craftsmanship combined with a uniquely African touch. Femi Olayebi is talent personified and her great eye for design together with a deep appreciation for African culture and textiles, has allowed her to create handbags and accessories that have a great story to tell and a wonderful visual appeal.

Diane Goldie - The startup story of a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur who creates incredibly beautiful wearable art that tells its own unique story

September 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Diane Goldie, founder and creative force behind c.Art — **Diane Goldie**, founder and creative force behind c.Art

Once seen, never forgotten - that is a phrase that perfectly encapsulates the work of Diane Goldie and her company, c.Art. This is one highly talented, passionate woman entrepreneur that is creating unique, bespoke pieces of wearable art with stories woven into the very fabric, to appeal to the confident, unapologetic and strong women who inspire her.

Juanita van der Merwe - The startup story of an award winning South African social enterprise up-cycling billboard ads into funky bags!

August 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Juanita van der Merwe, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa) — **Juanita van der Merwe**, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa)

Little Green Number is the brainchild of a passionate young social entrepreneur, Juanita van der Merwe, who is aiming to change the world for the better by not only creating unique, really funky handmade bags from up cycled advertising billboard posters thereby helping the environment, but also creating much-needed local jobs for young people in her community.

Johanette van Niekerk - The startup story of a South African jewellery and accessories designer whose creative passion turned into a business and a new, positive life direction

July 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Johanette van Niekerk, founder of Sew Good Handmade (South Africa) — **Johanette van Niekerk**, founder of Sew Good Handmade (South Africa)

South Africa has a long tradition of beautiful jewellery and accessories craftmanship and beading, and one creative entrepreneur is taking it to a whole new level with her company, Sew Good Handmade. Johanette van Niekerk is a woman with a wonderful creative soul who sees beautiful design possibilities in everything around her and particularly in the materials she uses. Her handcrafted products are literally kaleidoscopes of colour, designed to lift the spirits of anyone wearing or displaying them.

Bushera Bashir - The startup story of an entrepreneur building a luxury ethical cashmere fashion label in South Africa

June 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bushera Bashir, founder of Trebene (South Africa) — **Bushera Bashir**, founder of Trebene (South Africa)

Every woman entrepreneur in Africa has a unique story to tell and usually an inspirational story of how their own personal entrepreneurial journey started. The back-story for Bushera Bashir, the founder of ethical fashion label Trebene, takes us on a unique journey from the birthplace of Cashmere wool, Kashmir, from where Trebene’s beautiful luxury cashmere scarves are handwoven, through to Cape Town in South Africa where they are designed, printed and retailed.

Anna Raimondo - The startup story of a contemporary South African jewellery designer inspired by bold and quirky references of the past

June 14, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Anna Raimondo, founder of SMITH Jewellery (South Africa) — **Anna Raimondo**, founder of SMITH Jewellery (South Africa)

In any jewellery design space, it is sometimes hard to make things that are instantly recognisable as the work of one creative person. Yet Anna Raimondo has created a brand personality and a design style that are uniquely hers, and as a result, the SMITH Jewellery brand is truly memorable.

Daniela Wingate - The startup story of an entrepreneur with a passion for handmade gifts that become tomorrow’s heirlooms

May 31, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Daniela Wingate, founder of Heirloom Treasury (South Africa) — **Daniela Wingate**, founder of Heirloom Treasury (South Africa)

Walking into Daniela Wingate’s flagship Heirloom Treasury store is a wonderful experience, and a real celebration of lovingly hand-made, carefully selected and beautifully displayed stationery and gift items that reflect the art of fine craftsmanship in Africa.

Mary-Anne Grobler - The startup story of a trend-setting jewellery business with an eye for natural raw materials

May 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Mary-Anne Grobler & Kara Furter, of Matter of Fakt (South Africa) — **Mary-Anne Grobler & Kara Furter**, of Matter of Fakt (South Africa)

South Africa is renowned for its precious and semi-precious stones and for one of the country’s up-and-coming jewellery design brands, Matter of Fakt, these wonderful raw materials provide all the inspiration needed to create unique contemporary pieces.

Rachel Phiri - The startup story of a Zimbabwean jewellery designer with an independent creative spirit

May 18, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Rachel Phiri, founder of Silverbox Jewellery (Zimbabwe) — **Rachel Phiri**, founder of Silverbox Jewellery (Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwean jewellery designer, Rachel Phiri, founded her company Silverbox Jewellery based on a passion for beautiful accessories and an inbuilt creativity that was looking for an outlet. The result is a jewellery business being built across two countries in Africa, and involving the family and their talents in its growth and development.

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