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Two young designers who are part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (the dti) pavilion at Source Africa Exhibition currently taking place in Cape Town, Western Cape, say they are keen to expand their footprint in the clothing and textile sector and take their brand to international markets.
 
Source Africa is the premier sourcing event on the African continent which brings together suppliers, manufacturers, service providers and buyers all under one roof. The exhibition also showcases products and services across all aspects of the textiles, apparel and footwear industries.
 
The Founder and Managing Director of Ledikana, Ms Mapholo Ratau says the fashion and accessories company based in Johannesburg is looking forward to meeting buyers and people who are interested in their products
 
Ledikana specialises in the manufacturing of contemporary African garments, hats and accessories. It also empowers and helps develop the skills of women from the rural areas of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
 
“Our main aim is to see buyers from different stores, boutiques, lodges and those in the corporate gift market and conclude supply contracts with them. Our style and quality make us a player that deserves to be in this space as they guide our entire manufacturing process,” says Ratau.
 
A banker by profession, Ratau says passion and the love of making garments led her to establishing her business back in 2011. She formalised it in 2014 and has retained many of the same customers she met seven years ago.
 
The company has previously participated in various trade missions by the dti including China and Italy.
 
The owner of Lust Be Original, Mr Nkoketse Mametse specialises in hand made leather footwear. Originally a clothing brand, it quickly developed and established itself primarily as a leather specialist producing leather shoes, bags, belts, armbands and wallets.
 
As a first time participant at Source Africa, the company is looking forward to networking with their counterparts in other countries and also to meeting distributors in order to expand the brand profile. Mametse adds that the platform will also give him an opportunity to learn more about leather processing which is where his next focus will be.
 

Issued by The Department of Trade And Industry