Lihle Lamola on building a brand that embraces identity and purpose
As Lamola reflects on her journey, she shares insights into the origins of her business, the challenges that shaped her, and the values that continue to guide brand into the future.
Speaking to Saturday Star, she also opened up the lessons she's learnt, and how staying rooted in her vision has enabled the brand to thrive, even through adversity.
How did your journey of entrepreneurship start, and how has it evolved over the years?
My entrepreneurial journey began a decade ago when I made the bold decision to leave the corporate world to pursue my passion in an uncharted territory. With a background in business development and further studies in financial and business management, I was well equipped to take the leap. That foundational background gave me the strategic insight, financial discipline, and customer service ethic needed to build a unique luxury eyewear brand — and that's how Freckle Eyewear was born.
Describe some of the difficulties you have faced and the things that have enabled you to continue.
One of the early challenges was rapid expansion. After launching Freckle Eyewear in 2015, we experienced fast growth and began opening multiple branches and diversifying into new industries. What I didn't fully grasp at the time was how aggressive scaling can strain cash flow. Some of those decisions were hard and costly lessons. I learnt that steady growth does not mean stagnation; it's strategic precision. In 2020, like many businesses, we faced our toughest challenge yet; Freckle Eyewear had to shut down for 6 months at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. With no sales during that time, we had to be extremely prudent with our limited resources. Resilience and adaptability helped us survive and emerge even stronger.
As you continue to dominate the female entrepreneurial space, what are some of the lessons you have learnt?
I have learnt the importance of staying true to my values. Trends may come and go, but your vision and integrity will keep you steady through the toughest seasons. It may sound like a cliché, but always remember why you started. Also, never feel intimidated in a boardroom full of male counterparts. Know your business, own your space, and back it up with strategy, leadership, and innovation. Embrace technology, be future-forward, and compete boldly, locally and globally.
What inspired Freckle Eyewear to be created, and how has the company expanded over time?
I've always been drawn to fashion, and I've followed international trends for years. When I started my entrepreneurial journey, it felt natural to gravitate toward an industry I love and understand. Growing up, I was often teased for my freckles, but instead of hiding them, I decided to embrace them. I wanted to create a luxury brand that resonates with authenticity, uniqueness and rarity, and that's how Freckle Eyewear was born. Today, through a strong omnichannel presence and strategic brand collaborations, we've expanded our reach and cultivated a loyal, fashion-savvy customer base.
What do you intend to achieve with your brand and journey?
I want Freckle Eyewear to be a gateway, a channel that gives aspirational and luxury consumers access to global, high-quality eyewear and offers luxury experiences that are defined by world-class customer service. Beyond the brand, I am passionate about empowering and mentoring the youth.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Maverick
15 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Showdown over future of Nelson Mandela Bay city manager expected on Thursday
Notices for a council meeting to discuss the future of Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Noxolo Nqwazi were issued on Tuesday as the political fallout over last week's abandoned council meeting continued. A new Nelson Mandela Bay city council meeting was called for Thursday, a week earlier than planned, with political pressures rising for a decision on city manager Dr Noxolo Nqwazi's future within the metro. The fallout from last week's meeting, which was scheduled to discuss the issue but abandoned because the reports were 'not ready', continues. ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom has written to the acting city manager, Ted Pillay, to ask why money spent on the abandoned meeting should not be classified as fruitless and wasteful expenditure. He said the abrupt abandonment of the meeting was 'deeply concerning'. Meanwhile, a legal opinion provided to the Nelson Mandela Bay metro by advocate Olav Ronaasen SC has advised the council to abandon its disciplinary hearing of Nqwazi. She was put on precautionary suspension in late 2023 and again in early 2024, pending disciplinary action which had been instituted against her. Ronaasen said he has been asked to advise on the viability of the disciplinary proceedings against Nqwazi and the status of the criminal proceedings against her to enable the council to reach an informed decision as to whether it should persist with the disciplinary proceedings or withdraw them and continue to pursue a settlement with her, in terms of which her employment with the municipality would terminate. The disciplinary hearing against her has been put on hold pending negotiations for a settlement, but the National Treasury has refused to approve a departure which would allow a settlement to be paid, suggesting that the disciplinary proceedings should first be pursued to completion. Nqwazi was arrested by the Hawks in September 2022, along with the metro's former human settlements director Norman Mapu, businessman Xolani Masela, his spouse Nwabisa, former Democratic Alliance councillors Trevor Louw, Neville Higgins and Victor Manyathi, and Nelson Mandela Bay ANC secretary Luyolo Nqakula. They face charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act. It is alleged that kickbacks for a toilet tender awarded during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic were used to reward Louw, Higgins and Manyathi for voting for a motion of no confidence against former DA mayor Athol Trollip. However, an application is pending for Nqwazi to be discharged after the close of the State's case, with her legal team arguing that the State had failed to lead any evidence against her. Different charges She is facing different charges at her disciplinary hearing. It is alleged that she misled the council by failing to disclose that a PWC forensic report did not support allegations of financial misconduct against Anele Qaba — now CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency — which meant his suspension was unwarranted and should have been lifted. Nqwazi's alleged failure, according to Ronaasen's opinion, was that she did not fully inform the council of the situation, which resulted in unauthorised and wasteful expenditure when a R3-million settlement was paid to Qaba. The second charge against her is that she unsuccessfully took a Special Investigating Unit report about the toilet tender on legal review, resulting in unauthorised and wasteful expenditure for the municipality. However, Ronaasen pointed out that Nqwazi performed both of these tasks under instruction from the council. As a result, he said, there was little chance of the disciplinary proceedings succeeding. He advised the council to revisit its decision, withdraw the proceedings (subject to the Treasury's approval), and formalise the in-principle settlement reached with Nqwazi. 'It would be financially irresponsible to pursue prolonged disciplinary proceedings,' he said. 'I suggest that this opinion be submitted to the National Treasury as part of the municipality's motivation as to why the disciplinary proceedings should be withdrawn.' However, Deputy Mayor Gary van Niekerk — who was frequently in conflict with Nqwazi during his tenure as mayor — said in a media statement issued on Tuesday that the city was at a crossroads 'for clean governance, accountability and the rule of law'. He issued the statement just a day after Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said in a memorandum that all communications from the political leadership in the metro must go through her. She did not respond to a Daily Maverick request for comment. 'Efforts by opposition actors to engineer the return of suspended (and criminally charged) municipal manager Noxolo Nqwazi risk reversing the progress made towards stabilising governance in the metro,' said Van Niekerk. 'Legal wrangling over her suspension has dragged on while she has continued to draw a salary, and contests over her status have become a rallying point in broader power plays in council.' Van Niekerk himself is facing criminal charges after allegedly using a council letterhead to obtain legal services for himself while he was speaker of the council — after Nqwazi had declared his seat vacant due to disputes in his former party, the Northern Alliance. He was found guilty at a disciplinary hearing, but earlier this week the MEC for cooperative governance, Zolile Williams, decided against removing Van Niekerk as a councillor and instead issued a reprimand. Van Niekerk said the legal fees for Nqwazi's disputes with the council had reached R800,000, while 'the municipality spent more than R5-million paying her salary and those of successive acting city managers appointed during her suspension'. DM

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Tshwane's draft policy aims to manage informal settlements and generate revenue
Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya says the city has a draft policy on informal settlement management aimed at curbing the growth of informal settlements. Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The City of Tshwane's draft policy on informal settlement management, currently open for public input, aims to curb the growth of informal settlements and explore revenue-generating opportunities. One approach is to electrify these areas, potentially generating revenue and reducing the city's annual expenditure of R1.5 billion on service provision. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya said the city wants to limit the number of informal settlements growing in the metro while doing something about the existing 502 ones. 'There used to be 220 informal settlements in the city but after Covid, that number grew up to 502.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ She said the city spent about R1.5bn to provide services to informal settlements, but suggested there ought to be 'a better way of doing this'. The draft policy follows an investigation by the Cities Support Programme team, which found that upgrading or relocating all existing informal settlements would require R32.5 bn, far exceeding the current budget and resources. The report reveals that the city's current approach to informal settlement upgrading follows a standard township establishment process, which is unsustainable given the significant funding required to upgrade or relocate all existing settlements. Moya said the city is exploring alternative approaches to service delivery, such as metering informal settlements and allowing residents to pay for electricity, and improving sanitation services beyond just water tankering. 'So, that is the work that we have now proposed to the council and it is now with the community,' she said. Her comments were in response to a query about the city's plans to resettle or upgrade informal settlements in Olievenhoutbosch, following a recent mass shooting involving rival gangs at a tavern in the Choba informal settlement that claimed six lives. She was, however, not in a position to provide details about the city's plans specifically for the Choba informal settlement. Regarding the mass shooting at Choba informal settlements, Moya said: 'We obviously condemn such incidents and we don't want to hear more of those. We have heard of the Enyobeni incident. We don't want those things to be normalised in our society.' She said the city will prioritise protecting its residents and ensuring compliance with regulations, including enforcing tavern closure times. She expressed concern that Olievenhoutbosch has been neglected for years, as visible in the area's condition, and noted that allowing chaos to persist often leads to undesirable outcomes, such as lawlessness. 'The years of neglect are catching up with us because that level of lawlessness was never supposed to happen in Olievenhoutbosch,' Moya said.


eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Hunters benefit rural communities
POTCHEFSTROOM - Hunting tourism contributes more than R44-billion to South Africa's economy. A study by North-West University shows that both local and international trophy hunting have recovered since the Covid-19 pandemic and are now playing a key role in the economy. The benefits go beyond tourism, reaching sectors like agriculture, trade, transport, accommodation, and personal services. Professor Peet van der Merwe, a tourism management lecturer at North-West University, says hunting tourism fits well in rural areas where there are few economic opportunities and it contributes significantly to wildlife conservation and local development.