Two young women to know
June is celebrated as Youth Month in South Africa, with a specific focus on June 16. In honour of our local youngsters, we spoke to two young women who are rocking their respective careers
Bonolo Helen Chepape is a 26year-old creative, born in the dusty mining town of Rustenburg and raised by a single mother. Her strong Pedi roots and fascination for storytelling, stemming from childhood visits to her grandmother’s house in Botlhokwa, Limpopo, inspire her designs. She recently created a range for Mr Price Home, including scatter cushions, rugs, blankets, wall art and side tables.
“My aesthetic philosophy is to preserve culture and heritage, and to tell stories through design,” she says.
“During visits to my grandmother I was surrounded by music, art and storytelling around a fire. The stories were of long ago — how my people danced, the rain Queen Modjadji, the translation and meaning of our clan names, poems and life lessons, which inspired me to draw.”
As a child who came from a struggling family, she didn’t think she could turn her doodling and drawing into a career, but her teachers believed differently and convinced her to follow her passion.
“I’d draw for hours. I think this led to my becoming the entrepreneurial being I am today, turning what I love doing into my livelihood,” she says.
Chepape moved to Joburg and completed a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and communication. She worked for a few years in advertising and brand communication for companies like Nando’s, MTN, Sanlam, Momentum and Legit.
Recently she went out on her own, starting an online décor and design consultancy studio, Lulasclan.
“A key motif in my work is the celebration of women,” she says. “I was raised by strong women and I come from a family of bold females who I want to celebrate.”
South Africa is full of opportunity for young people to start their own businesses, she says. “The youth of today are informed, educated and innovative. South African brands formed and established by young people are taking the world by storm and showing our ability to compete on a global scale.
“The major challenge is still SMME funding for young people looking to grow their businesses. Affordable and accessible education also remains a major setback. A young person who could be on the next Fortune 500 list is being denied the opportunity to unlock their potential and make a difference in our country.
If more corporates got involved in up-skilling, funding, mentoring and plugging small business into their supply chains, there would be a change that’s not only dependent on the government. If every business supported local, creating a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem, the youth wouldn’t focus on trying to get international investors or move overseas. They would focus on uplifting their own communities.”
Chepape is working on creating a range of textiles and fabrics available, from June 25, from her online store. She is also designing a furniture range that she hopes to release by year-end. Andrea Nagel