Scented candles and design satin bonnets the way to financial independence for young entrepreneur Lungile Nkabinde
By Edward Tsumele
On a particular day in 2021, now 21 year old creative woke up feeling creative, and with her basic sewing skills she had learned from watching Youtube, she designed and sewed satin bonnet, a headgear mostly women use to cover their heads to protect their hair from tear when they sleep. After completing a job well done to her satisfaction, she decided to share the joy with her socil media friends.
“I was immediately overwhelmed with requests that I should do something for them too. I went straight nto designing and sewing more satin bonnets for my social media conectio0ns, and soon I added scented candles and different colours of the various bonnet designs.”
Today, Lungile Nkabinde from Brakpan’s business called Lareine is so much on solid ground that she is next year going back to university after she dropped out of studying for a degree in visual arts with UNISA.
“After launching this business, I in fact discovered that I love marketing, motivated by my success of selling my products online. I am now going to register for a Bo.Com marketing degree,” she said.
However through Lungile dropped out of a visual arts degree, studying the degree half-way was not in vain. And indeed while I was there our conversation was constantly disturbed by customers who were attracted particularly by the scent emanating from the candles on the table. “Can I have the blue one please,” one man in the company of two others bought the candle for R200.
As I moved toward her stand at the Youth Owned Brands Award festival, my eye was attracted toward her because of a giant poster that I found to be visually appealing. I went closer to have a closer look. “Luxury Satin and indulgent scents. “We are dedicated to bringing the queen lifestyle to you by offering you an exclusive range of satin and scented products. Our products are made with only the highest quality material and are designed to provide a truly indulgent experience.” The poster read, and next to the text was a face of a young woman, beautifully adorned in a blue headgear. Quite attractive to the eye. The model is the young entrepreneur herself.
“I expanded the business from designing and manufacturing satin bonnets to creating scented candles that can be used during meditation or simply to create a relaxed atmosphere around the room.” Such as during a date,” I remarked. She laughed and nodded. “Yes, of course.”
The sky indeed seems to be the limit for young Lungile in pursuit of her dreams and financial independence through Lareine.
For more information you can visit www.latreine.co.za