Lindi Roaming the Streets with Ntomb’enhle Dolls and Lulasclan!
In Zulu, “Ntomb’entle” means beautiful girl. The Ntomb’enhle range represents just a few of our South African and neighbouring countries traditions.
Finally, South African cultural black dolls that children can identify with! Ntom’benhle Dolls is the concept and creation of Molemo Kgomo (46). This mother of two beautiful daughters brought the range into the market in 2005, after identifying the lack of pretty black dolls in the market which her daughters could relate to. Little did she know that in addressing this issue, that she would be answering the call of millions of other moms around the world, who wanted their children to have dolls that represents them. The dolls are beautiful girls as their name states. They have beautiful brown skin, brown eyes, short hair and curves. This is typical of a South African little black girl. In addition they celebrate the heritage of each of the South African cultures.
“BOTH MY DAUGHTERS ARE MY INSPIRATION, THEY ARE MY LIFE !!!!!!!!”
They are dressed in apparel representing the following 8 South African cultures:
Zulu
Sotho
Pedi
Swazi
Ndebele
Venda
Tsonga
Xhosa
“The goal with Ntomb’enhle Dolls is to provide little girls with a doll which they can see themselves in, and therefore start the process of redefining the definition of beauty in South African girls. The dolls can be played with by all races, as we see with white dolls. We believe that they will help to foster tolerance, understanding and friendship between children of different cultural backgrounds. We live in a diverse country and have much to celebrate!”
“It has been along journey and has not ended, I will keep going at it as I still have so much I would like to do with the brand, the journey continues.”
Graphic Designer and Illustrator Bonolo Chepape, also the founder of LulasClan, manufactures and produces all products in Rustenburg, North West of South Africa. These designs are authentically created in-house. Material Scatter cushion designs are printed on 100% cotton twill using the latest digital sublimination printing technology. Designs are made according to individual specifications to create unique products with a personalised taste.
“We specialise in textile design, illustration, interior decor & design.”
So she called this Journey Meet the other side of Africa, another side of Africa that is free from the negative perceptions of society but a place where colour plays in-between all the black and white lines that seem to define and divide us. “Let’s put colour into play this time in a positive light, in a merge of two styles and a new breed that form when Africa meets West and women come together to rise up together to reach the stars.”
When ‘I’ becomes ‘We’ that’s when we will succeed in building one another and supporting one another’s dreams and stories are passed on through generation and generations, stories that tell of amazing and inspirational women who helped to build an African mindset, that is all inclusive and creativity forms the unifying language.
Meet the other side of Africa is not just a collection of beautiful scatter cushions, it is Art, it is story telling, it is a movement and a collection with the aspiration of one day collaborating and sharing stories of women across all walks of life and celebrate all that society deems as imperfect, because in true reality imperfections are what makes us all beautiful, and unique.
It starts with ‘I’ with an aspiration of becoming “we”, so if you would like to collaborate, and are a creative looking for a platform to showcase your talent, join the Clan, we all about creativity and bringing different parts together to form a whole. email your submissions to talent_colab@lulasclan.com
“Our limited collection of well-crafted bespoke scatter cushions, are designed to celebrate woman and to tell their stories. Each scatter is inspired by a graphic illustration piece and is specially printed for a high quality finish. Let your home tell a story, celebrate it with this collection.”
MEET THANDO Meet Thando, she is made of love, she is the love that unites shapes and patterns whilst bringing all sweet pastel colours together.
MEET THULI A little attitude, pink lipstick, bold prints, and a huge ‘Fro’ sounds like nothing good oh! Thuli can’t live without.
MEET MBALI She blossoms like a wild flower, planted among the weeds, and just like spring comes with joy so does she.
MEET NALEDI Just like shooting stars, Naledi is one that’s hard to find. She lives a lucid dream and is determined to be much better, much brighter then she was yesterday.
MEET MAMA-AFRICA Mama Africa the mother of nature, and the salt of the earth, she is soft, nurturing and a strong rooted women.
“It’s not easy leaving your job in the pursuit of happiness and a life out of comfort and security, but this journey is only truly beginning and I am still yet to scrape and fall on my way to reaching a place where I can feel I am at home and free from the many fears of the unknown.”