In this episode of I Am Tourism, host Melissa Foley speaks with Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana Fashions — a proudly South African brand designing ethically made fashion, uniforms, and corporate gifts using culturally rich prints like Seshweshwe.

Originally launched after her retrenchment from the finance sector, Ledikana has grown into a recognised supplier for local retailers and international travellers alike. The brand now operates a store at Johannesburg Airport and is part of the Sigma Incubation Programme supporting high-potential small businesses in tourism value chains.

For those working in hospitality or procurement roles, this conversation offers practical insight: how sourcing locally doesn’t just create jobs — it tells stories your guests want to hear. From lodge uniforms to conference gifts or retail merchandise, Ledikana brings meaningful cultural context into every product while supporting South African women-led production teams.

Mapholo explains why hotels and lodges have more power than they think when it comes to driving sustainability — not just through green buildings or waste management but through everyday procurement decisions that connect directly back to communities.

Key Takeaways

• Melissa Foley: “People get confused when they think about sustainability. They think that it’s going to cost them a lot of green to go green… but they overlook the power of their wallet.”
• Mapholo Ratau: “South Africa gives me hope. It’s not all about me, it’s all about us. It’s about creating jobs, monetising everything, making profit so that our businesses become sustainable.”
• Mapholo Ratau: “When you say sustainable, people are thinking, ‘Wow, what is that?’ And it is something that we are already practising. It’s just that we do not know how to articulate it.”
• Melissa Foley: “This is a very, very easy solution — a win-win for everybody. When travellers come here, they want cultural connection. They want something authentic.”