WHAT SPARKED YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT? Our Pretoria upbringing was shaped by our parents; our father spent most of his life in sand mining and our mother was a nurse. We were surrounded by business as they were both very entrepreneurial.
LIFE PURSUITS AFTER MATRIC? Mo: I’m a born artist and a law-school dropout. From an early age, I was passionate about crafts and handmade goods. My love for travel was stronger than my desire to go to university, so I spent most of my 20s abroad. Michelle: I completed my undergraduate and honours degrees in B.Com Agriculture at the University of Pretoria before pursuing a career as an agricultural economist. I later completed a master’s degree at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
HOW DID ORIGAMI BECOME ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE BUSINESS?Mo: Our business started as a hobby. During my travels, I had a Japanese roommate who taught me how to make origami sculptures. For years, I wasn’t sure where to sell these until Michelle invited me to the Kamers Market in 2015 and I saw someone selling roses made from newspaper. That same evening, I looked up how to participate in the market, and the following year, we exhibited for the first time selling origami swan sculptures and walked away with the Best New Product award.
BRAND HIGHLIGHTS? Our amazing partnerships with our customers, both locally and internationally, have been highlights. Locally, we’ve partnered with Woolworths Home, @home, and Mr Price Home. Internationally, we’ve collaborated with Target in the USA, Crate & Barrel, and recently CB2. In the future, we would love to collaborate with H&M, Zara, and Ikea.
WHAT’S THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR EACH BASKET? We source materials from construction sites and landfills. If we use grass material, it comes from local farmers in and around Africa. Once we receive the materials, we start the weaving process. For our PVC products, we strip the pipes before weaving. Depending on the product, the process takes from one to seven hours.
PROS & CONS OF BEING SISTERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS? Initially, it was just a hobby, so we didn’t really have a formal conversation about it. But when we decided to take the business full-time, it was a discussion we needed to have. We are very different, with distinct strengths and skill sets, so we set boundaries early.
OTHER “MADE IN SA” BRANDS YOU LOVE? Wonki Ware produces amazing pottery. The founder started a small studio in George about 20 years ago, which gradually became a meeting place for other potters and creative people. They developed a method of making pottery that could be replicated with sensitivity in pattern and design. Switch Make Up – we admire this brand because it’s local, different, and inclusive.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR DOWNTIME? Mo: I love to take long walks around my neighbourhood. It’s my time to disconnect and be still. I’m also a big fan of the local restaurants in my area. Michelle: I really enjoy hiking. It’s a wonderful way to appreciate nature and stay active at the same time. I also love travelling and a recent trip to Franschhoek was particularly special.
A BOOK EVERY ENTREPRENEUR SHOULD READ? Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown is a must-read. It teaches the importance of focusing on what really matters by eliminating non-essential activities and making disciplined choices in how you use your time and resources. It’s a great guide for entrepreneurs.
A QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? “What’s the next best thing?”
BEST TIP ON STYLING A MO’S CRIB BASKET? Be creative, there’s no specific style and no basket is ever the same. We advocate for creativity, so whether it’s using laundry baskets to store firewood or toys, our products are made to be incredibly versatile.
