Female Founder Friday with Lebogang Lechuba
I first met Lebogang Lechuba and her incredible mother (and co-founder/COO) at the Rosebank Market in Johannesburg, South Africa and was immediately impressed by both the story and quality of their homegrown wellness line. Rich in texture, scent, and extremely effective, Mmawe Naturals pays homage to traditional remedies with contemporary luxury. Ethical, natural, and truly made with love (Mmawe is named after Lebogang’s late grandmother), Mmawe Naturals really does have something for the entire family. I sat down the Lebogang to find out more about the lines origin, what it’s like to work side-by-side with her mom, and what wellness means to her.
Lebogang Lechuba | CEO + Co-Founder of Mmawe Naturals
JA: Are there any beauty rituals that you grew up with/inspired your product line?
LL: Growing up my mother was big on us moisturizing at night and drinking warm water before going to bed. I didn’t understand why we did all of that but I always looked forward to it. My mother always went out her to find lotions that were gentle to the skin and she struggled for a while because we (her children) always had bad skin reactions. That’s what inspired us to make an effective product that the whole family could use.
JA: When did you have the “a-ha” moment of creating Mmawe?
LL: When everyone kept telling us that they need some more product because it’s working and they’ve noticed changes in the appearance of their skin.
JA: What is the process to choosing/sourcing the ingredients?
LL: We do a lot of reading on the benefits of natural ingredients and we are regular visitors at health shops. This blend of research helps us to determine what stays and what goes. Scent is usually the determining factor because if it doesn’t smell good you probably won’t want to give it a try.
JA: How long have you been making your own products for?
LL: Over two years now, but my mother has been whipping home-made remedies for us since I was a baby.
JA: What is it like working with your mum? What’s been the funniest moment you two have shared in creating Mmawe?
LL: It’s a lot of fun working with her because she’s very practical and patient, whereas I’m always thinking ahead about the next things to be done. It’s a great balance we have and we respect and trust each other to take the business to the next level. We once misplaced our recipe book and we thought that’s it, we’re screwed! Panic set in but as soon as we found it we saved all that info somewhere safe.
JA: How long does it take to create a product? When are you satisfied that it’s complete and ready for market?
LL: We always experiment with different ingredients and then test our mixtures for about 2-3 months to see how our skin reacts. Once we’re comfortable with the results we produce more and we share Samples with family and friends to give us feedback on the products.
JA: What were some of the challenges you faced in launching?
LL: Getting reliable suppliers is tricky when starting a natural skincare business. So it’s important to have a good relationship with them so they can always give you the best quality of their stock. Having a strong online presence in a world full of information is not easy but we’re getting the hang of it.
JA: Where do you see your company in 5 years?
LL: Definitely on shelves in a supermarket near you 😁
JA: Any favorite at home wellness remedies that you recommend?
LL: Drinking warm water with lemon before bed or tea is my favorite way to wind down. Invest in scented candles, it’s really calming and add dry brushing to your daily skin routine to exfoliate and remove toxins that get stuck on your skin.
JA: What does wellness mean to you?
LL: Wellness is about making healthy choices regarding all areas of your life and in order to do that you need to be in alignment with your authentic self or higher self. Once you become self aware you are mindful of what you put in your body and what you share with the world.