The VALOYI Crowdfunding Campaign

#VALOYI is raising funds to continue doing the great work of rejuvenating traditional craftsmanship and to celebrate our African identity.

Showcasing the immense and rich diversity of heritage African cloths and cultures is at the heart and core of VALOYI Africa.

Our Story

VALOYI is a brand that was purposefully created by me, Designer Harmonie Mbunga, to pay homage to traditional African craftsmanship, giving it a new medium for their stories to be retold and bestowing upon them a deserving dignity and honour to live on in our times. An ethically conscious affordable luxury accessories brand for the modern international woman and man, VALOYI brings refined contemporary design to the vibrant cultural cloths of Africa. When you buy a VALOYI Bag, you are buying art, a new modern heirloom, a piece of The African Story, retold. You are supporting our mission of celebrating and the retelling of The African Story and its Maker through slow fashion and conscious consumption.

VALOYI also advocates for Made in Africa products and showcases the quality that can come out of this great continent. Quality that will shift the narrative and perspective. Thereby helping to lay the foundations that will further create the building blocks for a long term industry, and successful supply chain from Africa to the world.

With the brand being based in Cape Town, I am determined to do all that I can to help to continue creating work and adding purpose for the exceptionally talented and skilled individuals I get to work with here; from the leather artisans, to my manufacturers, producers, and suppliers. The local apparel industry was already hard-pressed. But with the pandemic, like dominos, it has negatively affected us all.

The Goal & Mission

With your help, I hope to raise, at minimum R150,000 in order to:

1. Launch a new collection inspired by the incredible hand drawn murals found on the homes of the Kassena people in Tiebele, Burkina Faso. As well as working with traditional female artisan led South African Zulu beaders to showcase their workmanship. Thereby creating a ripple effect that will provide much needed work for these exceptionally talented women, and in turn help support themselves, families, as well as their community.

2. Extensively market the new collection to a local and international audience by developing market access through key fashion distribution networks such as online platforms, marketplaces, Stylists, features in major online publications, trade shows (now all online, but once they're physically back too post covid).

Continue to collaborate and network with key influential industry players to create engaging content and storytelling on social media, and media in general, that will further advance our mission of taking our beautiful African heritage to the world.

3. Any amount over and above R250,000 will be utilized in establishing VALOYI's much needed workshop studio space where beautiful quality locally made heirloom products will be created. A space where activations and artisan led workshops can safely take place. And, most importantly, where employment will be created for skilled and talented Makers, as well as those willing to be taught new skills. Thereby establishing ecosystems that will help serve the greater community.

The success of this can only be achieved with your help. Because together, we go so much further.

That, is the spirit of UBUNTU!!!

Thank you for your support. Every bit of it matters.

Much love,

Harmonie