Two people, two jobs, one vision

Neimil started during the Covid-19 pandemic when people spent more time at home. Keneilwe Mothoa and co-founder Lubabalo Mxalisa began making cushions and artworks from wool and yarn.

“People were spending more time at home, investing and beautifying their spaces.”

The Batho cushion changed everything

Mothoa's first signature piece was the Batho scatter cushion, handmade with yarn and tufted. Batho means people, and the silhouettes show people gathered together. A collaboration with H&M made it a breakthrough moment.

“that was the first piece that made us 'Neimil'”

Retrenchment became opportunity

Mothoa registered Neimil in two thousand eighteen with Mxalisa. After being retrenched from the Edcon group in two thousand twenty, she dedicated herself fully to building the brand.

“I took it like a champ and it was almost like a sign to say: 'Okay, now this is your chance, girl.'”

Mpumalanga colours shape the designs

Mothoa's inspiration comes from her upbringing in Mpumalanga. She uses the colours of the land in her designs and brings in references from traditional dress throughout her creative process.

Slow design in a fast-fashion world

Mothoa rejects fast fashion and preserves handwork. She uses long-lasting fabrics like denim and bull denim. Everything is made locally and in-house in Johannesburg, with some homeware made by local suppliers.

“I think it's important to preserve handwork. A lot of brands or companies thrive off creating volumes, but at what cost?”

African design is not one aesthetic

Mothoa challenges the idea that African design means only vibrant prints.She says Africa has different cultures and traditions with different ways of dressing and communicating.African designers are on the same level as international ones.

“Often when people think of Africa, they just think of vibrant African print, but don't understand that we have different cultures and traditions.”

Création Africa accelerates the journey

Neimil is now a participant in Création Africa two, a seven-month incubation programme by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of France and Ifas, supporting cultural entrepreneurs across South Africa, Lesotho…

Paris showcase and global ambitions

The team will showcase their work in Paris this year. Mothoa wants Neimil to become a beacon of light for African craft and design and eventually open a brick-and-mortar store.

“I think we want to be known globally for preserving this nature of creative design in Africa and in South Africa.”