South Africa - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

My business creates bras, panties, and mastectomy bras using couture techniques to give women in Africa more affordable high quality lingerie. We want to provide women who have had the unfortunate experience of battling breast cancer, beautiful lingerie

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

I want to offer an alternative to what is currently available on the market. I want to give survivors of breast cancer a product that can boost their confidence and make them feel good about themselves. I want to use my experience as a haute couture designer to create beautiful garments for survivors and affordable prices. Comfortable, luxurious fabrics and extra support without compromising on the items sex appeal.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

I want to offer affordable bras and lingerie to women who had their breasts amputated and breast cancer survivors

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The product is comfortable. The product is sexy. It gives the customer confidence and makes them feel whole again. The product is luxurious but affordable. It offers women who have survived a traumatic illness an opportunity to feel like their old selves again. It offers a sense of normalcy to an otherwise traumatic situation

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Breast cancer survivors and mastectomy survivors

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-07-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

1

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Keneilwe Khobo is the founder of the project. She's obtained a Bachelors Degree in fashion designer from stadio formerly lisof in 2020. She has competed in a pan african reality TV fashion competition, wherein she came in 2nd place. She has freelance with MTN for GLG event. Has showcased with The Fix and Mr Price SA fashion week.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

e) Secondary commodities (cars and parts, consumer durables and apparel, retail)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

I have employed 2 young people from my community in the township. Whom I have skilled and trained to work on a temporary basis. They are paid abo9the minimum wage and they are much more skilled than when they walked into my studio.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

4

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

5

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

I have employed people who have dropped out of basic education because of their circumstances and I have managed to educate them. I also have students from university who come to my studio occasionally whom I educate on a daily basis.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

My business is a 100% women owned, I have employed 100% women. I work with women freelancers and collaborate with women on a regular basis

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

4

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My business is not at a point whereby I can employ on a full time basis. But I currently have employed women who work decent working hours, who have a decent pay and who work in a healthy environment.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

5

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

With women being more financial independent, I believe that inequality can be reduced. Hence I make it a mission to only employ women

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

We don't believe in throwing away offcuts. We reuse them for out projects. We also use 100% natural fabrics and try to stay away from. Synthetics and material that is not biodegradable.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

6

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

5

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

We dye our materials in studio using natural methods. As fabric dyed from the shops usually uses a lot of water.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

6

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all races, with a life time risk of 1 in 27. My product will be solving problems for women in all of Africa. There has been mastectomy bras but most of them are too basic to be classified as lingerie and the lingerie pieces are way to uncomfortable for women battling breast cancer and the survivors. I'm offering a product that blends both. I'm offering a product that also accommodates women who unfortunately might not have breasts anymore or who only have one. But in a sexy and luxurious way like lingerie.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Truelife, Mstore, Barclay and Clegg, Thursdays, Nicola Jane. My product is different because it offers a range of colors. It offers a range of nudes for all skin types. It is as sexy as a Victoria Secrets bra but as soft as a cloud

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Not really. I try to get my close circle to get into entrepreneurship but because I work so hard and seldom do I go out most people think entrepreneurship is lonely and depressing