Where my Story Begins
I grew up in Botswana surrounded by shweshwe. It was everywhere, so familiar that I hardly noticed its beauty. Years later, I brought my Malaysian husband to a shweshwe shop during a visit home. His delighted “Waaaah cantiknyeeee” made me see the fabric with new eyes.
We returned to KL with more fabric than luggage space and a heart full of ideas. Those ideas eventually formed the seed of Lerato.
What I Do
I design handmade lampshades, pouffes and other décor pieces using shweshwe and ankara that I source from trusted suppliers in Africa. The fabrics arrive stiff with starch, carrying the weight of tradition. After a gentle wash, they soften and become ready for transformation.
Each piece is crafted here in Malaysia by artisans who care as deeply about detail as I do. I create in small quantities because quality feels personal only when it is intentional.
Shweshwe is part of my heritage. It has a quiet power to connect people who recognise its patterns. I hope to share that feeling with homes in Malaysia and Singapore, not by recreating my world, but by allowing our cultures to meet in a soft and joyful way.
Beauty has its own universal language, and I want every Lerato piece to speak it.