From beautiful hand-crafted shoes, bags and any custom made leather piece you want, you can trust the award winning Shilongo family from Shilongo Leather Works to give you Proudly Namibian quality products. Under their strict supervision since 1986, they deliver on their promise of YOUR QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR LIFE. They have the most amazing story of their business.

When Sakeus and Selma met, Sakeus only made small items, like purses, belts and bracelets.  She was a cleaning lady, and he sold his products in Keiser street once per month.  Selma helped Sakeus to do the leather work from the start. They then had their first child and Sakeus started to tell her that they should only do the leather work, but she was skeptical as a mother, always putting the necessities first. She finally decided to join him when their second child was born.  Selma had a natural talent when it came to selling. Sakeus and Selma was invited to open the first Namibian craft center.  Selma was in charge of the selling of their products, while Sakeus was in charge of making the products. 
Their customers were tourists, who quickly started asking for custom made products, of which they would often give Selma samples of.  Later on, Selma could just draw the product and Sakeus would make it.  They gathered the patterns out of thought or something they saw, which they always asked if they could use and sometimes even exchanged one of their new items of the client’s old one, just to get the pattern.
The craft center moved to Prosperita after a while, but the foot traffic was slow because it was so far out, and mostly only people who knew the Shilongo’s came looking for them.  They then moved to a Post Street Mall, where selling picked up.  Selma one day walked into Town Square and saw a small, vacant shop.  She went to the managing company at the time and told them, she wanted it.  But it was expensive!  Sakeus was skeptical about this move, but Selma used her savings for the  deposit and first month’s rent.  The day they opened, she will never forget.  The customers came in and no-one left without buying something.  They had their best day this far!  From there, Shilongo Leather Works kept on growing.
Next, a second kiosk at Post Street Mall was opened and they started attending Trade Fairs, with the couples' children and Sakeus’ brother, helping them to sell and make the products.
It was still tough times, and profits was only used for necessities, while some profits were put into savings. 
In 2017, Shilongo Leather Works moved into a warehouse with offices and a factory shop as their residential home became too small to live and manufacture products in.  Thomas Shilongo (their son), an Engineer by trade, joined the family business as to assist his parents.  They were only renting, but the Shilongo family had big dreams to grow the business even more. Theft was a big problem at the stalls, shops and kiosks, so they fitted this warehouse, as well as all outlets with an excellent security system to ensure minimal stock losses by theft.  The security system enabled them to achieve better profit margins through minimum loss, and Shilongo Leather Works opened their store in Auas Valley and then in Ongwediva.  That was the turning point for Shilongo Leather Works. 
The company currently has shops in Auas Valley, Maroela Mall in Ongwediva, Wernhill, Town Square, Okahandja and Maerua Mall.

They have grown from 2 people having a dream, to employing 70 permanent workers, most of which were taken from the streets and taught Sakeus’ unique craftsmanship.
Shilongo Leather Works are 100 % managed the Shilongo family.  Sakeus and Selma are still active in the company, and is joined by 4 of their children, Thomas, Fina, Naftali and Jonas, as well as the newest member of the Shilongo family, Tabita, who got married to Thomas in April this year. 

Should you wish to surprise that special person in your life with a unique and handmade Christmas gift with excellent value for money and durability, Shilongo Leather Works will be an excellent choice.  Feel free to contact them for a variety of products, including personalized engraving on your special gifts.  Guess where I am doing my Christmas shopping!