Kirsten Eddey and Claudia Loureiro founded a duo-owned brand named Thwala Co in June 2021. They grew up on the East Rand and went to the same high school. Since leaving school, both Kirsten and Claudia have lived in Cape Town and different parts of Johannesburg. Currently, both Kirsten and Claudia live in Johannesburg. They have always dreamed of starting their own business together and finally decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship in 2021.
What inspired you to start your leather bags brand? "It was because of the simple idea that people need a small, minimalist, slimline, convenient way to carry their phone, cash, cards and car keys. We were determined to design our products and manufacture them locally, using locally sourced materials and good quality leather."
How did you overcome the challenges you faced at the beginning? "We encountered some challenges with finding the right manufacturer and getting the design just right. COVID-19 and the national strikes in July 2021 put our design process and manufacturing at risk and caused considerable delays. We learnt during these times to persevere and be patient".
What makes your bags stand out, and do you offer any other products? "We launched with a single product – the Thwala cell phone crossbody bag. The product is unique because it comes with a detachable magnetic cell phone cover, so your phone is protected when inside and outside the bag. It's also very convenient to pull your phone out of the bag if you receive a phone call or want to take a photo (even though you can leave the phone in the bag to take photos because they have a nifty camera hole). The Thwala bag is genuine leather, and it's durable, beautiful and high quality. It can be used without a strap as a wallet but comes with two straps included in the price – one matching genuine leather strap and one extra acrylic or silver strap so that you can customize your look. We also sell a range of extra straps for those who enjoy personalizing their look with every outfit. Lastly, we also sell the cell phone covers separately, so when you get a new phone, you don't need to purchase a new Thwala bag; you can simply purchase another magnetic cell phone cover".
Lastly, what have been your business highlights thus far? "Launching a new product is scary and risky, so hearing what customers have to say about Thwala has definitely been the highlight. "Once someone sees or uses the Thwala Bag, they understand its true value. It carries all of your essentials while looking great and is so convenient that it ends up adding a lot of value to our customers' lives. We also pay a lot of attention to detail and deliver the bags in beautiful packaging. Our customers love this and say it's like receiving a gift. And who doesn't like receiving gifts?"