Distinctive bag styles that combine the durability of leather with the vividness of African prints

Palesa Ellen Nhlapo established and registered Paleigh Designs (Pty) Ltd on February 6, 2020.
The company is located at R973 Rietview, Letlhakaneng, Brits in the North West Province.

When Palesa was younger, she started making clothes for her dolls by hand, which sparked her passion for designing. She began making clothes for herself and later her mother purchased a sewing machine. She was inspired to create a backpack for her brother in 2016, and after making one, her brother took it to work where his coworkers appreciated it and ordered more.

That is where her journey into bag-making began.

Palesa designs laptop bags, backpacks, sling bags, and side bags made from handcrafted leather and African fabric are the specialty of Paleigh Designs.

Her goods are versatile, creative, and of high quality, appealing to both adults and children. Her ability to design distinctive styles that combine the durability of leather with the vividness of African prints is what distinguishes her brand. She currently employs one part-time employee who helps with production.

Some of Palesa’s short-term objectives include offering temporary discounts and promotions to draw in new clients and implementing a CRM system to track sales and enhance customer engagement. Her long-term goals are to create a solid marketing plan that will raise brand recognition, cultivate a favourable reputation, and guarantee client satisfaction by maintaining dependability and quality.

In running her business, Palesa must contend with competition from overseas textile manufacturers who produce on a larger scale and at lower prices. She combats this, though, by teaching her customers the importance of spending money on long-lasting, premium goods that outlast the less expensive ones that are frequently available on the market.

Palesa was born in Krugersdorp, and credits her mother and grandmother, who are both skilled seamstresses, with inspiring her artistic ability. Despite having no official training, she uses her abilities to honour her family’s legacy because she feels they are a gift from God. Her love of craftsmanship, commitment to quality, and conviction that creativity can elevate common materials into extraordinary creations continue to inspire others through Paleigh Designs.

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Profile compiled by Resego Thabe – Marketing Assistant, NWDC