Beloved, Just Start (Nthatuoa Makhapa)

This week, we have nothing but love, and you will find out why as you listen to the interview with, my guest today, Nthatuoa Makhapa. She is the founder and creative director of the knitwear brand, Nthatuoa Crafts where everything is made by hand and inspired by her home country of Lesotho.

Launched in 2019, the brand is growing from strength to strength along with its founder who will, for example,  be joining a cohort of other young African leaders for the Mandela Washington fellowship in Washington DC this coming June. Nthatuoa is also the recipient of a grant from the African Development Fund Business Plan Competition she entered in 2022.
 
Along with these achievements, Nthatuoa shares with us,  her passion for knitwear and preserving the ancient craft of crocheting and other artisanal skills. She talks about how she has become an environmental and social justice advocate. And how she moved from being a hobbyist to full-time entrepreneur who also lends her crafting skills to other designers.
 
Love and Storytelling are at the core of the Nthatuoa brand, and it stands to reason, as Nthatuoa means ‘beloved’ or ‘loved one’ in Sesotho.

Thank you for sharing your story @nthatuoa_com 🧡🧡🧡

LINKS AND MENTIONS

• Cape Town Boutique MeMeMe 
• ReWoven -  Cape Town-based Textile Rcycling company
• Lukhanyo Mdingi - South African fashion designer and 2021 LVMH Fashion Prize winner 
• Munkus - South African premium fashion brand
• Mandela Washington Fellowship - Six week leadership training for Sub-Saharan African young leaders
• African Development Bank