South Africa, July 29 -- A self-taught leather artisan, Mareka has grown Hide and Suede from a personal ambition into a recognised handcrafted brand producing bags, wallets, personalised gifts and leather home accessories.

Now, as one of the Woolworths Youth Makers 2026 participants, she is entering a new chapter focused on scaling the business without losing the craftsmanship and storytelling at its heart.

Mareka's route into leather began in retail. While working at a boutique that stocked some of South Africa's leading leather brands, she gained insight into how consumers choose and connect with quality products.

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"When I relocated from Cape Town to Johannesburg, I knew it was time to ...