Mosibudi Jo Mathole and Khomotso Ramodipa are two South African sisters who quit their jobs as an investment banker and an optometrist respectively, to start a diamond polishing business, at a time when the price of the commodity was so low and unattractive to investors.
We all know diamonds represent a significant symbol of wealth in society. Only recently Burna Boy and Wizkid made it a prime factor as they played Ghana’s traditional game Oware with diamonds in Burna Boy’s new video ‘Ginger’.
MUSIC VID: ‘GINGER’ Video Is Out! Watch Burna Boy & WizKid Play OWARE With Expensive Diamonds
In 2019, while speaking to the VOA, Mathole and Ramodipa said their love for diamonds drove them into the business. The industry in South Africa is still male-dominated and has actually shrunk. Once a booming business, diamond polishing has shrunk from 4,500 polishers 25 years ago to 250 polishers in recent times.
Mosibudi Jo Mathole and Khomotso Ramodipa
Despite the gloomy picture of the sector, the two sisters were unfazed and opened Kwame Diamonds in 2008. The shop in Johannesburg offers the cutting and polishing of precious stone.
Putting South Africa On The Map With the 1st Only Women-Owned Diamond
Interestingly, the company is the only firm in South Africa run by sisters and according to Women in Diamond, the sisters manage the only women-owned polishing business in the world.
“The barriers to entry go beyond just being a woman or being a man because the difficulty boils down to having an outfit like this, you really need a proper capital outlay,” said Mathole, who is the company’s director. “And for women, it becomes a bit tricky because this has always been a very male-dominated industry.”
The year they set up Kwame Diamonds, Mathole and Ramodipa became qualified diamond valuators and have since carved a niche for themselves in the polish and cutting of diamonds. Aside from that, they also ensure that they sourced diamonds responsibly and ethically.
According to co-founder Ramodipa, they are accredited to cut and polish world-renown De Beers Group’s branded diamonds.
“To be able to produce a Forevermark diamond, which according to them, it’s 1 percent of the world diamonds that are produced. … If you are able to polish that kind of diamond, then you are among one of the best,” she said.
The South African sisters employ and train other women in the industry, a move seen as part of their own contribution of increasing female participation in the sector.
Grace Tshego is a diamond polisher at Kwame Diamonds.
“Now I can go out there and say, ‘I’m a diamond cutter,” Tshego is quoted as saying. “I’m even specializing with ‘fancy cut’. It’s something that is so wow, cause other people they don’t know it.”
Mathole and Ramodipa have received commendations for their innovation and staying afloat in an industry in decline. “They’re looking at the diamond industry from a different perspective,” says the former president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Ernie Blom.
“They’re thinking out of the box. And maybe they’re ticking all the right boxes that is giving them the success that they have. And maybe that’s what a lot of the older diamond industry can learn from.”
Source: Face2faceafrica.com
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UPCOMING TOP EVENTS!
Volta Fashion Week, Awards and Honors will be happening this year from 10th-12th February at the serene Holy Trinity Spa and Hotel in the Volta region Of Ghana. Having an array of spectacular designers from both Ghana and other parts of Africa showcasing. This year’s event is fused with a special massage package for VIP guests. Ticket cost ranges from 50 cedis for students, 100 cedis single, 150 cedis double, 1000 cedis VIP and 1500 cedis for VVIP.
The International Fashion Festival in Togo (FIMO 228) has established itself for nine years now as a benchmark fashion event that promotes the talents of designers from all over the world. Like every fashion event, FIMO 228 reflects the art in fashion and all the cultures of the countries represented by the designers present.
Presently on the FIMO 228, creators, models, photographers, journalists, and national and international media. But it does not stop there. Each year, FIMO228 is part of a logic of commitment to solving the problems of our society. Thus, the 10th edition of FIMO 228 has the social theme “Fashion is committed to protecting the environment” and the artistic theme “Féérie”.
Now the dice for the 10th have been rolled;
All-African Leather Fair (AALF): the trade show organized by The Ethiopian Leather Industries Association
(ELIA) from the first edition in 2008 up to the 12th successfully. AALF brings together tanners, footwear and
other leather goods manufacturers, in addition to equipment and technology suppliers, chemical and
inputs suppliers, manpower training institutions, trade promotion organizations, etc from all over the
world.
African companies and organizations are expected to constitute the largest attendance. The Fair is a
specialized one designed to promote the African leather industry and to enable it to create an interface with
its partners within the continent and around the world. There are side events included occurring parallel
with the show Panel discussion, Fashion show, Fashion Zone, and Leather Talent show.
Due to the Global market situation and the pandemic impact on the leather sector in Ethiopia and Africa at
large heavily affected. It is expected that the upcoming AALF trade fair will play its role in motivating the
sector in market expansion and facilitating inter-African business relations. Investment Attraction, Technology
transfer and etc… To motivate the sector The government starts the school shoe and bag project under the
initiation of the manufacturing sector “Let Ethiopia produce “ “ Ethiopia Tamret“ as the sector dependent
on inputs such as chemicals, accessories, and component suppliers will be expected in wide participation.
Considering these AALF2023 will Have new components fashion show will be including some Africa
countries participation, Fashion Zone(where many designers will participating by showing the Fashion
trends) Talent show (leather products creativity, any innovation creativity in the sector ) in addition to this
Ethiopia Leather journal upgraded to Africa Leather journal (sector-based studies, research and potential facts for Africa will be published inspirational descriptive motto also included.
Uyo Fashion Week 2022 & SME Bazaar and Fair is a week long event that brings together elements of education, entertainment, and capacity building, using fashion as the driver. The event is designed as a campus style hub that will house a fashion show, masterclasses, skills acquisition, an experience center, and an SME Bazaar. The theme for this years event is Creativity.
DIRECTION COLLECTION: OUT NOW!
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