By Seleoe Nonyane
Itumeleng Lentoa is a 24-year-old lady from Qoaling, Maseru who runs a crafts business called tumilentoa.
Founded in October 2022, the business manufactures bespoke leather products such as bags, belts, wallets and a catalogue of others.
Lentoa told this publication that the products vary from small items to bigger items and that prices range from M50 to M300.
She said she works from home but also runs an online store. People can order from the business social media pages – @tumilentoa® on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp catalogue.
Lentoa embarked on the business journey in 2020 while still at school and decided to have her own leather brand after completing her course.
She said that she enhanced her skills at the Technical Institute of Leloaleng but emphasized that she honed most of her skills on her own.
The young businesswoman has always wanted to become a designer, but struggled with choosing the type of designer she wanted to be. The leatherworks course inspired her to become a designer in this field.
“I could have chosen anything, but in crafting leather I found a space where I could express my creativity. It fascinated me; sewing, cutting and bringing a product to life thrilled me.
“It was more like an adrenaline rush. The more I crafted, the more I wanted to express my art and communicate it better to people who will understand it,” she recalled.
“Leather is the most durable material. It is a luxurious material, the most exported textile in the world so, why not be part of the statistics that can show the diversity of this material?” she quizzed, enthusing that designing is embedded in her.
Lentoa said the business is handicapped when it comes to providing itself with good machinery, resulting in failure to produce certain products.
The other challenge she faces in running this type of business is that some materials are only ordered online which is costly.
Despite the many challenges that comes with the leather business, Lentoa loves that she is excelling in a traditionally male industry.
“I love that my work exudes strength and bravery since I’m a woman. I hope that girls who come after me will be motivated to dominate in any career they choose.
“Business has been great. I just wish I had known sooner that it doesn’t only take creativity to have a successful business: there is perseverance, grit. I had to develop a thick skin and discipline myself in terms of how to handle money and my brand. I believe there is still a lot to learn,” she added.
