Fairlady November 2017

The closest I’ve ever come to a Thanksgiving celebration is watching one in a movie. It’s always more or less the same: people start to gather for the obligatory family reunion with lang tande, then there’s some kind of minor disaster that results in a huge family fight, then everyone makes up by reminding each other how lucky they are to have each other, then they all eat pumpkin pie and get on with their lives. It all sounds absolutely brilliant to me, except for the pumpkin pie (eeeeuw). I like the idea of having a day when you’re supposed to sit down and count your blessings, and I like the idea of clearing the family cobwebs out well before Christmas. Since November is the last real month of relative…

1 URBAN DECAY NAKED HEAT This magnificent eye shadow palette has made me a total fan: great colours, creamy, long-lasting, just the right amount of shimmer… smoking hot. I love it, and people say nice things when I use it. 2 BUMPING INTO A RHINO EVERY NOW AND THEN The Rhinos Are Coming!!! (TRAC) raises funds for stoprhinopoaching.com like this: businesses buy a white rhino, which is then painted beautifully by local artists. I’ve already spotted one or two in the V&A Waterfront, and we can expect a crash of about 100 of them around Cape Town this summer. They’re fun – and for an excellent cause. 3 A BIT OF WIT IN THE WATER 3 I’ll be sprouting golden wings from my shoulders…

✽ WINNING LETTER Homecoming After living in Uganda for 21 years, I’m back! I look at my homeland through new eyes. I feel happy and positive, and I’m excited about stuff that most people don’t notice. When you’ve lived in a country where you have limited choices, the choices here are ovewhelming: should I buy Vanilla Rooibos, Five Roses or orange-infused tea? I’m driving around on decent roads with traffic lights that work, observing new buildings and upgrades of buildings/roads/parking areas, noticing the beautiful countryside… Everything is functioning, people are getting on with their everyday schedules, rushing to the next meeting, closing another deal, driving too fast to get to the next appointment/ picking up the kids from school – they don’t have time to see what’s going on around…

The Montblanc woman is independent, self-confident and magnetic – the embodiment of timeless beauty in a world in constant motion. Her innate sense of style is evident in every move she makes. She is multi-faceted, like the Montblanc diamond, which is why Lady Emblem L’Eau was created for her, to reflect yet another facet of her personality – the irresistible, candid femininity that surfaces when she slows down to take a walk in a summer garden filled with the sharp, sweet scents of citrus trees and fresh roses.…

‘It might not be key to a successful business, but it helps if you’re immersed in the lifestyle and love your product – it makes for an authentic sell.’ Spiritgirl Owners: Rochele le Roux and Leigh Sarembock Start-up costs: Our investment capital was R135000, which we used to buy the fabric and inks for sublimation printing and to hire CMT (cut, make and trim) assistants for our first production. Turnover: To date we have increased our profits by 411% on last year. Our business plan requires us to reinvest our profits into the business so that we grow. We invest in stock to keep up with demand. We try to keep our operational costs to a minimum, but shipping costs are unavoidable. Just two years old, the Spiritgirl label…

Yswara is about beauty and about transforming African agricultural resources into extraordinary products locally,’ says Swaady Martin, founder of the artisan brand of gourmet teas and teatime accessories. ‘Our teas are named after African values, and African kings and queens. We’re sharing a part of the history and culture of Africa with the world.’ Born in Côte d’Ivoire, Swaady has lived in 11 countries. ‘My father is American and my mother, French, Guinean and Ivorian. I’m a mix of American, European and African cultures. I’m a citizen of the world!’ Unsurprisingly, she’s averse to being put into a box of any description. ‘I’m just Swaady. I’m an entrepreneur. As to what defines me, I like using the phrase: “I love, therefore I am.” It’s about the passions I follow, like…