In celebration of Women's Day this year, we wanted to interview someone truly close to Jess's heart, a dear friend and inspiration, Bonolo Chepape, founder of Lulasclan, a South African homeware and textile design studio strongly steeped in African storytelling and heritage.

Bonolo's journey began in her mother's garage in Rustenburg, with her mother, Anna, and her aunt, Tshupi, as the first hands behind it. What started as a scatter cushion business in 2016 has grown into a brand that collaborates with global names, creates employment for women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and uses design as a tool for genuine transformation.

Bonolo is also a mother, and that too shows up in everything she does. Her daughter is the first eye on every new design. The legacy she is building is not just about beautiful objects; it is about showing her child what it looks like when someone shows up for their passion, their people, and their community, again and again.

Enjoy the interview below...

 

 

Lulasclan began in your mother's garage, with your mother, Anna, and your aunt, Tshupi, as the first hands behind it. What did these amazing women teach you about what it means to build something, and what does that origin mean to you now? 

Wow, what an incredible question, one that holds such a deep meaning and started this platform (Lulasclan). What it actually means is building something with people in mind that, in turn, becomes family. After all, these two amazing women believed in me before anyone did. It was the people I called family that shaped the real vision, which is now giving space to work with others to form partnerships that become friendships and selling my products to customers that have eventually become family too.

 

 

You have collaborated with MRP Home and created a pattern for one of your clients that gained  H&M’s attention; you have been recognised at 100% Design Africa, and you recently took part in the Sanlam Ventures Foundation mentorship programme. When you look back at that journey, what obstacle are you most proud of overcoming?

I guess it's impostor syndrome - not a lot of people talk about the effects of accolades or accomplishments. On one hand, in the moment, they shape your next step/future, but what I often struggled with after taking the steps of accomplishment was really believing that "I did that." I was very quick to move on to the next thing without pausing, reflecting, or feeling gratitude. Recently, I have intentionally participated in being more present in all the many moving parts - being in a state of gratitude, self-validation, and self-belief, and knowing that "I can do that" and can still do more. I think to sum it up in the same breath, it would be being resilient through the challenges and not giving up when my impostor mind said I should. I'm proud of that; it has become an anchor through all the different types of challenges, whether it be business viability, self-improvement, or creative exploration.

 

You work with women from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, creating employment and passing down skills. What have those women taught you in return? 

I believe they've taught me to be more patient, to respect the mark of the hand devoid of “perfection”, to be more collaborative in leadership and creativity, to look at my practice as not something singular but a shared perspective.

 

 

You are a mother and a founder. How has becoming a mother changed the way you think about the work you do and the legacy you are building?

Wow, so for one, it has helped me value the essence and value of time, of work, of friendships, of, in fact, keeping the triangle a triangle, despite it in some seasons looking like a trapezium. It has definitely anchored me. I know that my truest joy is not from what I accomplish but my daughter's input in it. I often joke and say if my daughter loves it, it's a go, and if she doesn't, it's no. I feel like it's very important for me for her to have her say, whether she understands what I'm doing or not, but having her have a look at every design that I bring to the world - I want her to be the first viewer. In terms of legacy, I think it's important for her to see someone like her do what fuels their passion and heart, and in no way saying she should be another designer, but the true legacy here is showing her how hard work, appreciation for people, community, sharing ideas or knowledge is the true legacy, and in some ways also remembering to leave the world a little bit better than you found it. This has shaped my view of suppliers, manufacturers, and collaborators, including the importance of voice and shared perspectives in design.

 

Women's Day in South Africa carries so much history and weight. What does August 9th mean to you personally? 

It means that we as women can finally "see" each other, truly see each other, not as competition, because we have already won the battle to enter the workforce and be in the professions that we love - looking at each other with compassion, excellence, reverence, and a collaborative spirit of strengths. We have finally made it out of the doctrine of kitchen and stipulated industries into taking up space and being bold enough to voice our opinions and goals. Women's Day is different; it's not about rivalry but rather working together to reveal and anchor the growth of each other's strengths.

 

 

South Africa has an extraordinary community of women building creative businesses. Who are the women in this space that inspire you, and why? 

Jessica Balzer, the founder of Project Dyad - Artisanal leather bags

Pichulik - Jewellery

The Ninevites - Pattern & Mohair

The Urbanative - Furniture

Zizipo Poswa - Ceramicist

Viviers - Fashion Designer

Siba Mtongana - Culinary

Yolanda Snyders - Artwire (Art & Curation)

Mamakashake - Culture

Zanele Moholi - Artist

Anna Weylandts - Visionary

I chose these designers, makers, creators, artists mainly because they are going against the grain, challenging a new visual identity of what South African design looks like, feels like, and how it's expressed. They share attributes that are centered around people, and yet also explore an exciting presentation of the local scene to a global audience but from a much more personal note. Maybe what I appreciate the most is how they each use colour in a way that unifies communities, builds emotional connection to storytelling, and visually showcases how tradition and craft heritage can be re-interpreted.

 

Shop Lulasclan here