Gauteng-based fashion designer Ike Lekgoro is a force to be reckoned with – he’s a leather craftsman who is now designing fashionable sneakers. Lekgoro, 38, launched his leather products business about eight years ago. But it’s growing so fast he now has a factory in Limpopo and is establishing new business ventures on the East Rand to cater for the needs of his clients in Joburg and surrounding areas.

He went from making handbags, jackets and belts to negotiating with well-known clothing brands that will hopefully “see me designing sneakers for them. And that is what I will focus on at my new branch in Edenvale. Sneakers are in demand”.

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Humble beginnings The designer was born and bred in Ga-Nchabeleng village, Limpopo. His brand is known as Tlotlego Handcrafts. Self-taught, Lekgoro says starting his sewing business was not easy as he failed many times before getting it right.

“The business started about eight years ago when I was operating in my parents’ yard. I wa.