ELILLY ALFONSO
Founder : Lilly Alfonso
Location: Malawi
Business Type : Fashion
Lilly Afonso is a fashion and design
company. We design and manufacture
clothing. The Lilly Alfonso business and
brand has two sub-labels, LAwoman and
LAman, specializing in women’s and men’s
garments respectively.
What Is The Inspiration Behind Lilly Afonso?
It started out as a hobby, making clothes
for friends here and there, then the number
of people asking for my services grew.
Eventually I had to open a tailoring shop
KENTE MASTER
Founder : Rafiat Kasumu,
Location: Ghana , USA
Business : Kente Weaving
Kente Master is a fabric artisan startup
committed to promoting African
entrepreneurship by internationally servicing
a unique blend of premium, finished Kente
graduation stoles. We create dynamic, long-
lasting, and mutually beneficial relationships
between local Kente weaving associations in
Ghana and universities in the United States
so that students graduate wearing authentic,
customized graduation stoles #MadeInGhana.
By doing this, Kente Master contributes to job
creation, security, and economic development
in Ghana.
42 Dabira Magazine
to accommodate the growing numbers of
customers. At that time I only had one tailor
but as the demand for my services grew I
found myself employing more tailors and
buying new machines. This organic growth
took place over a number of years. Yet
interestingly, all that while, I didn’t consider
myself a designer. The Lilly Alfonso brand
itself was born after winning an award as
best designer - that was a game-changing
moment, and that’s when I actually
considered myself a designer. Since that
time, I have never looked back, and today
Lilly Alfonso has become a limited company
with shares.
"Our products speak of high
quality, and we stand out in the
marketplace because we make
versatile collections."
What Makes Your Brand Unique From
Other Competing Brand?
Lilly Alfonso products are locally
designed and manufactured. What we make
is of international standard, yet proudly
What Is The Inspiration Behind Kente
Master?
Kente Master was co-founded by a group of
my peers and myself, all of whom wanted to
revolutionize a threatened traditional weaving
industry. While studying abroad with a group
of students in Ghana through the University
of Pennsylvania’s joint International
Development Summer Institute (IDSI) with
KNUST, our cohort learned about and visited
one of the first Kente weaving associations in
Ghana. We grew an immense appreciation
for the craft's artistry and history. After
learning about the significance of Kente —
down to the meanings of colors and patterns
– I realized how important this craft is and
wanted to be a part of the movement to help
these small weaving communities reach
international markets, while producing
traditionally, at an unparalleled pace.
What Makes Your Brand Unique From Other
Competing Brand?
Kente Master is the only fabric artisan
company in the Kente industry that provides
authenticity, affordability, and customizability
to universities, student organizations, and
individuals seeking Kente graduation stoles.
By working with the most skilled, traditional
African. Our products speak of high
quality, and we stand out in the marketplace
because we make versatile collections. As
a brand, Lilly Alfonso is all about upscale
and class. When someone wants his or her
outfits customized, we make sure that the
final product is personalized to suit their
individual tastes and lifestyles
Inspiring Words To Women Entrepreneurs
It is important that you know yourself.
Understand and believe in your dreams.
Give yourself room to research and plan for
whatever you are dreaming of venturing
into. Giving up isn’t the only way if things get
tough ahead. Challenges build you up, and so
does criticism. Failures make you unique, so
use them and turn them into positives.
The Founder, Lilly Alfonso is a Malawian
who is now a leading light on the Malawian
fashion and business scene.
Lilly Alfonso can be reached by email;
[email protected]
Kente Weaving Associations in Ghana, we
are able to provide our clients with the most
unique and intricate Kente designs available.
Inspiring Words To Women Entrepreneurs
Make sure you are passionate about the
problem your start-up was created to solve.
This is essential because that passion you
have will be the fuel for business. Always let
that passion drive you through every stage of
your business. Rafiat Kasumu is a Nigerian-
American who developed a love for Kente
"I realized how important this
craft is and wanted to be a part
of the movement to help these
small weaving communities
reach international markets,
while producing traditionally, at
an unparalleled pace. "
while working with Kente weavers in Kumasi,
Ghana Kente Master can be reached by email;
[email protected]
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