The name Maison Lisa derives from two women in her life that she calls ‘her pillars of strength’, her mother and grandmother are both Elisabeth so Lisa in short. Her grandmother Elizabeth Makwa was aspiring to be a designer when she fell pregnant with my mother Elisa Makwa. This brand force is a legacy of three phenomenal generations.
“I wanted to celebrate and pay homage to the women who made me who I am today. The women who groomed me and every garment is made to honour them,” Palesa says.
The Maison Lisa range embraces women’s figures of all shapes and sizes. From denim jeans, dresses, jackets, skirts, and shorts that embrace the African body.
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The Free State born entrepreneur fell in love with fashion when she travelled with her mother Elisa Makwa to New York, Brazil, and London. She has walked South African Fashion Week ramps and as well as posed for billboard and magazine spreads. She worked for big fashion industries such as AFI Prive Platinum Group Jenni Button Hilton Weigner.
Married for 10 years with two beautiful children Alexander and Gabrielle Matjekane, her passion reawakened when she entered Mrs. South Africa in 2020, she then started her denim brand Maison Lisa after having children and learning that women’s bodies change and differ and the never-ending struggle to find perfectly fitting jeans, that are comfortable and fitting.
The brand is produced locally in South Africa. Palesa is the Founder of Women In Formation Africa, an NGO which focuses on education, empowerment, and social equality to ensure that girls and women have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.
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She sits in the Top 40 as Mrs. South Africa semi-finalist after not making it in 2020. She felt she is now ready more than ever over after dedicating her time for two years to empowering herself through her personal goals and dream.
She wants women to look at her resilience and know that “we hold all positions as women and we owe to ourselves to chase our own dreams no matter how big or small. Regardless of how many times you have tried, the aim is to never give up until we grab hold of that dream because it is possible. I am excited to the journey ahead and using a platform such as Mrs. SA sisterhood to learn and grow with other women and remain United paving a way for the next generation to come.”
Palesa holds a BCom in Marketing and she has been in the Marketing and Advertising industry for over 10 years before deciding to try her hand in the entertainment industry and use show business to make a positive change.
She has worked with United Nations, the African Union, and as National Head of Marketing Black Management Forum – Young Professionals and forms part of the Administration team – Secretariats of BRICS Financial services working group.
Bongi Sikelo 