It’s no longer paper sculptures, but Morongwe, is shaping and redefining home decor with sustainable and functional creations with her brand affectionately known as Mo’s Crib. She shares on what has been a remarkable entrepreneurial journey so far.
The first thing I ever designed was a rug made from recycled shopping plastic bags when I was just 8 years old. Unfortunately, I no longer have that piece, but I still remember the process vividly. I’m even considering revisiting that design concept and experimenting with it again!
Being self–taught has instilled a deep sense of curiosity and resilience in me. It has taught me to embrace trial and error as a part of the learning process and to be fearless in experimenting with new techniques and materials. This approach has influenced how I run my business—by fostering an environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged, and where learning from mistakes is viewed as a path to growth.
A pivotal moment for Mo’s Crib was when we exhibited our recycled PVC baskets at our first major market and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. People were intrigued by the concept of transforming waste materials into functional art. This experience reinforced my belief that sustainable design could be both beautiful and impactful, driving me to further explore and expand our eco–friendly product range.
By making our customers part of the conversation, we encourage them to see the value of investing in eco- friendly products. We use multiple platforms, including social media and in–person events, to share the stories behind our products and the benefits of sustainable home decor. We emphasise how our use of recycled materials helps reduce waste and promote a circular economy.
Winning the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot is an incredible honour. It validates the hard work and challenges we’ve overcome in building Mo’s Crib and reinforces my commitment to leading with purpose and impact. What makes me bold is my willingness to push boundaries, challenge conventional norms, and persistently pursue a vision for sustainable and socially impactful design.
I envision a future where sustainable home decor becomes the norm, not the exception. I hope Mo’s Crib will continue to be a pioneer in this space, inspiring other businesses to adopt eco–friendly practices and demonstrating that design can be both beautiful and responsible. Our goal is to lead by example and create a positive ripple effect throughout the industry.
