Adonia Mankou Yanate, a South Africa-based interior designer creating functional, beautiful, and transformative environments

February 16, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Adonia Mankou Yanate, founder, Shumukh Design (South Africa)

Startup Story

Adonia Mankou Yanate, founder of Shumukh Design, approaches design as both an art and a philosophy—one that shapes how people interact with space and, ultimately, with life itself. She seeks to craft environments that are not only functional and beautiful but also transformative. Her design language is deeply rooted in texture, textiles, and color, drawing from African narratives while embracing a universal human experience. With projects spanning South Africa and the DRC, Adonia is building a brand that aspires to redefine luxury in an African context, proving that design can be both deeply personal and globally resonant.

Kim Williams, an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town, South Africa

February 1, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

Kim Williams is an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town. With a unique approach that blends creative and behavioural strategies, Kim transforms spaces to positively impact people's lives. Her work spans residential and commercial projects, earning international recognition. Kim is also an inspiring public speaker and author, known for her commitment to mindfully design purpose-driven environments that shape lives.

South African interior designer Kim Williams launches new RAKGADI African Toile Interior Range

January 19, 2025 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

South Africa’s vibrant heritage deserves to be celebrated every day, and the newly launched Kim Williams RAKGADI African Toile Interior Range powerfully encapsulates this essence. First unveiled at Decorex Cape Town in 2024, the range was born from the dynamic collaboration between esteemed Cape Town based interior designer Kim Williams and acclaimed fashion designer Jessica Jane Molebatsi. The collection, inspired by the essence of togetherness and the powerful role of South African women in our lives, beautifully blends the rich symbolism of local culture with modern design, showcasing a commitment to community, heritage, and beauty. Part of the stunning selection of home décor items includes elegant placemats designed to instantly elevate any table setting, along with a beautifully crafted carpet collection in partnership with Airloom.

Marilize Jacobs, a South African serial entrepreneur leading two innovative yet distinctive business ventures

October 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Marilize Jacobs, founder, Pigs Can Fly Interiors & VocalCord Reputation Management (South Africa)

Startup Story

Marilize Jacobs is the founder of two businesses, Pigs Can Fly Interiors & VocalCord Reputation Management in South Africa. She is a reputation strategist with a BCom Marketing Management (UP) and a career spanning interior design, marketing, and PR. Clients, especially in the Financial Services, Legal, Pharmaceutical, Hospitality and Retail industries which revere her strategic skills, thoroughness and tenacity when it comes to building and maintaining reputations. On the personal front, she is a boat skipper and avid cyclist, and also has a pro bono involvement with The Star Academy, an international institution for children with Autism.

Lioness CoLab / New UNafraid limited edition rug collection launched to celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa

August 26, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness CoLab

New UNafraid limited edition rug collection launched to celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa

A collaboration between South Africa’s ZURI and IMANI, a passion-driven surface and textile design studio, and decorative flooring specialist, Airloom Decor, has resulted in the launch of a limited edition rug collection. The 'UNafraid' limited edition rug collection is a collaboration between ZURI and IMANI founder, Joy Ezeka and the founders of Airloom Decor, Rosie and David Bradshaw. This collaboration was launched on 1 August 2022, in honour of South Africa Women's Month, a celebration of resilience - as communities, as individuals, and particularly as women.

Alcinda Cumba Durão, an interior design entrepreneur transforming client spaces

July 24, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

IZHA Interior Design, Limitada, a specialist business turning interior spaces into live/work sanctuaries in Mozambique

Alcinda Cumba Durão, or Isa as she is known, is the founder and executive director of two companies, namely, IZHA Interior Design and JD&D Group in Mozambique, which is currently a 6 people team. Both of her companies represent her life motto: “Explore your full potential and be whoever you want to be”. She’s been a Lawyer by profession for 7 years, with over 10 years of experience working in the corporate sector and administrative services. She has a mentoring program for helping adolescents and young adults on their professional journey and also has a passion for interior design and decided to finally pursue her dreams.

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)

Lioness Launch

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.

Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur, transforming homes and spaces in Cameroon

July 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Manuela Kamadjou, founder, Kebe Home (Cameroon)

Startup Story

After finishing business school, Manuela Kamadjou started her career in Finance in a Big Four company. She then shifted to the cosmetics industry in search of more reality! An entrepreneur since 2019, Manuela founded Kebe Home, a passion project that became an interior laboratory and whose mission is to use the power of design and culture to inspire people.

Lioness Launch / Pristine Home Interiors launches its new showroom and interior design service for discerning clients in South Africa

March 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Launch

A South African black-owned small business since 2015, Pristine Home Interiors has had a singular goal since its inception; to create signature and statement pieces and spaces. Each design in its showroom has been personally selected by the company’s boutique team with the South African lifestyle and aesthetic in mind. Founder Samukelisiwe Moralo, together with her co-founders Sthembile Ndaba and Sphamandla Ndaba have carefully curated a selection of designs that reflect their incredible country and way of life. Pristine Home Interiors is launching its new showroom based in the trendy design district of Kramerville in South Africa, with an Interior Design service that offers custom made furniture at a reasonable price.

Dounia Tamri-Loeper, an entrepreneur lighting up the world

May 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

It’s often said that lighting makes a space or a room come alive, and for design entrepreneur Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home, lighting is her inspiration. She is creating beautiful, statement lighting pieces that not only celebrate the centuries-old techniques and designs that are uniquely Moroccan, but is elevating them to a whole new level.

Eva Sonaike, a luxury interior and lifestyle brand builder with a vibrant West-African aesthetic

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

There is a growing global interest in African design, textiles and products, and talented Nigerian interior designer and lifestyle brand creator, Eva Sonaike, is taking the world by storm on the back of this trend. Her aim is to position the 'African' aesthetic in the global textiles and interior industry as part of her bigger brand-building picture.

Cecilia M Kapasula, a South African entrepreneur turning her passion for African fabrics into a great home decor business

August 11, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah (South Africa)

The big global trend right now for incorporating the beautiful, bold and luxurious textiles created in Africa into home and office decor, is growing rapidly. Harnessing the power of that trend is South African decor entrepreneur, Cecilia Kapasula, founder of Home Of Sweet Savannah, a growing decor brand that is proving a hit with interior designers and home owners alike.

Chrissa Amuah, a talented design entrepreneur inspired by Ghana’s Adrinka symbols, reinterpreted in a contemporary way

March 10, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Creating African inspired design solutions that are relevant for today’s sophisticated marketplace, and for clients who want to put a uniquely evocative stamp on their personal and work interiors, is what drives entrepreneur and founder of AMWA Designs, Chrissa Amuah. Her work reflects her design ethos and passion for celebrating her own African heritage, but with a contemporary flair that is her own.

LIONESS COLAB: Gone Rural Swaziland X Dokter and Misses

September 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Innovative South African design company, Dokter and Misses have teamed up with artisan weavers Gone Rural Swaziland, a high impact social enterprise in rural eSwatini, to develop the modular Soldier Screens system. The screens are made of a slender steel frame with inserts woven from a combination of sustainably harvested sisal and indigenous Lutindzi grass, which grows wild on rocky outcrops in the Swazi mountains.

Bernie de Le Cuona, a South African born entrepreneur building a luxury fabric brand that is taking the world by storm

May 13, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of de Le Cuona — **Bernie de Le Cuona**, founder of de Le Cuona

In the highly discerning world of luxury interiors, global designers and homeowners are always trying to source the most beautiful fabrics and furnishings to create the ultimate living environments. The de Le Cuona luxury fabric brand has built a global reputation at the forefront of this industry, producing some of the finest fabrics on the planet.

Dounia Tamri-Loeper, a Moroccan entrepreneur creating beautiful contemporary lighting inspired by her country’s traditional design aesthetic

October 29, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Dounia Tamri-Loeper, founder of Dounia Home (Morocco) — **Dounia Tamri-Loeper**, founder of Dounia Home (Morocco)

Entrepreneur Advice from Eva Sonaike: You really have to stand out and be persistent

October 10, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Eva Sonaike, founder of Eva Sonaike — **Eva Sonaike**, founder of Eva Sonaike

You have to find a way to stand out....

"... you have to have a great product, idea or service. The market is over-flooded with so much these days, that you really have to stand out! Then be persistent and don't be discouraged if there is a 'no' or some doors won't open. You have to have a lot of stamina and keep going. It is an ongoing journey, which can be very frustrating sometimes, but if you stay positive and focused, unexpected things may happen!"

- Eva Sonaike is a talented Nigerian interior designer and lifestyle brand creator. Her London-based company, Eva Sonaike, creates luxurious textiles, home-décor and accessories with a distinctive and vibrant West-African aesthetic. Eva's products are are carried by many of London's top stores such as Selfridges, Liberty and Fenwick of Bond Street.

Jess Binns, a creative entrepreneur in South Africa designing spaces that make people, companies and brands feel good

August 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Jess Binns, founder of Hector & Bailey (South Africa) — **Jess Binns**, founder of Hector & Bailey (South Africa)

The environments we spend time in are critical when it comes to influencing the way we feel, interact with others, and experience life and work. For interior designer Jess Binns, founder of Hector & Bailey, this represents a wonderful creative challenge. To design interior spaces that connect with those who use them, and beautiful exterior spaces for those that view them.

Thabisa Mjo - The startup story of a talented creative entrepreneur with an eye on building an exciting new lifestyle brand in Africa

April 19, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash.T Design Studio (South Africa) — **Thabisa Mjo**, founder of Mash.T Design Studio (South Africa)

Interior design company, Mash.T Design Studio, is on a mission - to create beautiful spaces. Inspired by its creative founder, Thabisa Mjo, the company prides itself by continuously providing its clients with highly creative solutions to their spatial challenges. The company is constantly working to solidify its status as a design company synonymous with cutting edge, inspired design.