Witvlei gets a clothes factory

A year since establishing Namibia’s first fully commercial clothing brand and retail outlet, the owners of My Republik are gearing towards another milestone - the November launch of a garment factory at Witvlei. The local brand first came to public attention in October last year, when the first My Republik shop opened at The Grove Mall of Namibia in Windhoek. The company was founded by former chartered accountant Ally Angula and partner Manna Matswetu under the name Leap Holdings. In June this year the shop reached its first N$1 million in sales. All the company’s garments are designed by head designer Twapewa Amutenya at Leap House in Windhoek West, with the Witvlei factory to handle all manufacturing when it goes operational in November. “Our garments are not the only unique thing about My Republik,” the group said in a statement announcing the new factory. “At our bricks-and-mortar store we provide a service that no other local retailer does - in-store styling.” “Our clothing can be summarised as ‘effortless style’. Our clothing is not trendy or high fashion; we believe in creating versatile pieces our citizens can dress up or down in. When citizens wear My Republik, they define the look,” the group says. “The path to creating My Republik was paved with many laughs and fun, late nights, early mornings, frustration and hysteria,” Leap Holdings MD Ally Angula said. “We faced many challenges and at times only a glimmer of hope kept us going,” she said. The decision to embark on the venture came after the owners realised that “the only way to create sustainable jobs and social development in Namibia is through stimulating economic development through manufacturing.” STAFF REPORTER