Bataung Moeketsi
DESPITE her humble beginnings, ‘Makori Mosiuoa’s mother, ‘Mamosiuoa, always expressed her love by ensuring that she purchased beautiful sleepwear for her daughter.
It is that show of love which has now inspired her daughter to become an entrepreneur specialising in sleep and loungewear.
Founded in 2018, ‘Makori says she was inspired by her mother’s culture to start her brand, NAHLA.
The company was officially launched as an online store in April 2020.
The satin pyjamas and linen loungewear sets offers women a chic, premium and African experience down to the detail.
“Love as they say is always in the detail and that’s true with us,” ‘Makori said.
“From our packaging to our customer service, it all starts with love.”
Client wearing NAHLA range
With a name derived from Lesotho’s national motto Khotso, Pula, Nala (Peace, Rain, Prosperity), ‘Makori’s business looks to pass on a “love language” shared between mother and daughter to her female clientele.
“When I was young, we couldn’t afford much but my mother always ensured to buy me a beautiful nightie or set of pyjamas. It was her love language. To this day, she buys me a piece of sleepwear and it has become our love language.
“It is my sincere hope that NAHLA sleepwear will be a love language that women speak to themselves and other women.”
‘Makori said her line draws from and pays homage to Lesotho, which she explains as “a country endowed with so much beauty and elegance”.
The range takes into consideration the lifestyle of the modern woman who often juggles the roles of being a career driven business woman and life in the home as a wife, mother and friend.
“We wanted to create something that women could look forward to at the end of the day, something they could work in.
“I wanted a line that rewarded the modern woman for who and what she is.”
‘Makori hopes to soon start a male range along with a line of skincare products.
“We are also looking to service the hospitality industry as soon as it picks up and God willing, who knows, maybe a hotel of our own is in the future,” ‘Makori.
The 33-year-old was born in Morija and was raised in Khubetsoana where her family still resides.
She currently resides in Johannesburg where she runs her business from.
Her miner father, Molefi Mosiuoa died in 2011 when she was still at the University of Witwatersrand. Devastated by his death, she ended up dropping out of her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology studies.
‘Makori felt compelled to make something positive out of her life, something that would have made her father proud.
She went on to acquire a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Brand Communication from Vega School in 2017.
After interning at Joe Public for a year in 2017 she failed to secure employment and eventually turned to entrepreneurship.
“After surviving a debilitating depression that rose from graduating from a prestigious school and failing to find employment, I had nothing else to lose, so I followed the dream that I had harboured for five years,” ‘Makori said.
‘Makori said an Ijeoma Umebinyuo quote has carried her through life’s hardships and unexpected turns.
The quote reads: “Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are with what you have. Just start.”
