“Leather accessories crafters Afrikan Passion Designs in Egypt IATF23”
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Intreview
carried by : Youcef MAALLEMI (maallemi-youcef@lecourrierdafrique54.com)
Le Courrier d’Afrique 54. Hello, can you introduce
yourself to our readers?
Nombuso
Khanyile : My name is Nombuso Khanyile cofounder of Afrikan
Passion Designs, we create environmentally conscious leather accessories,
footwear, bags, belts and bracelets. We upycle discarded car tyres and turn
them into footwear soles, therefore we reduce car tyre pollution in our
community.
Tell us about your beginnings and your
products?
We started in 2013 as street vendors in Durban KwaZulu Natal but formally registered in 2017 as a team of 2 but now we are a team of 5 and we have a small production shop in our village. We have won the follwing awards:
-DBF Excellence Awards Rural Based Business 2022
-Durban Youth Connect Innovative Business 2019
-Media features include FORBES AFRICA
How is the Marquenery sector doing in South
Africa?
The leather industry in South Africa is doing well as
people are now conscious of the negatibe effects of fast fashion, therefore the
gravitation towards supporting authentic and quality products.
Your products are made from cowhide, why did
you choose this material?
Cow hide is a high quality durable material and it
lasts a lifetime, we pride ourself in creating sustainable pieces that last as
opposed to fast fashion
Tel us about your participation in IATF 2023,?
I am grateful to the Trade and Investment KwaZulu
Natal and the Department of Trade Industry and Competition
South Africa for the support to be part of such a platform. To be able to
engage with a global audience is highly beneficial for my business in terms of
export and growth, I am learning from different cultures and finding
inspiration as well.
What advice do you give to those interested
in this sector?
To research everything regarding the market and to be
in it for the right reasons.
