The word Moowe is Lhomwe meaning mother’s love and in Lhomwe mothers are referred to as Amowee. This is the name that creative mind Alinafe Mapwesera chose for her brand that creates unique African, Malawian bags from local and sustainable materials.
“Drawing inspiration from Thomwe, Moowe symbolises the profound love of a mother. Our brand embodies the essence of womanity and celebrates the inherent beauty of women. At Moowe, we recognise and honour the invaluable role women play in the world,” said Mapwesera, who also owns Nana’s Closet, a brand that creates fashionable gowns.
She said her creations which come from sustainable raw materials sourced locally, also serve as a tribute to the strength, grace and unwavering love that define the spirit of womanhood.
How did the Moowe brand come to be?
“Naturally, I have always been a creative person. For the past 10 years, I have owned and grown one of Malawi’s leading fashion brands, Nana’s closet. After a decade of creating gowns, I stumbled upon the concept of sustainable fashion and it completely transformed the way I saw my work and purpose,” she said.
Mapwesera said she decided to be creative and make something that honoured Malawi’s natural resources, something that carried the true voice of Malawian and African culture.
“Our bags are handcrafted using mlaza and bamboo material, deeply rooted in our tradition, while our resort-wear pieces are made from recycled and upcycled fabrics. Moowe is more than a brand. It is a contribution to sustainable African luxury, a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and eco-conscious design,” she said.
Mapwesera gets her raw materials from Chikwawa and soaks it in water while a team of her talented artisans bring the designs to life according to her sketches.
Currently, she sells to locals as well as clientele from other countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and UK.
Why sustainable fashion?
Mapwesera said she chose sustainable fashion because she wanted to create products that do not just look beautiful, but also honour environment and Malawi’s heritage.
“Using mlaza and bamboo allows me to support local artisans, reduce waste and celebrate Malawi’s natural materials in a modern luxurious way.
The creative lady thinks that with Malawi constantly suffering from forex shortages due to heavy imports, she wants to contribute by changing the narrative and bring forex instead.
She plans on expanding her business by opening a big workshop, expand her outlets in many countries and sell across the world.
After one year of operating, Mapwesera employees seven artisans.
