Luxury, Style and Determination: The Mohenn Story

Throughout his childhood, Murenga Oiva Hamunjela had always been fascinated with hunting and everything related to it. He loved hunting, loved all the tools and accessories that hunters use to carry out their work.

In high school he created his first email account and opted to go for a suggested name that was generated from a combination of letters in his first, second and last name: Mohenn. The name, which was created when he was in grade 8 in 2005, has stuck with him ever since. Apart from being his nickname it has become the name of his first streetwear brand.

By the time he decided to venture into the business of leather bags and accessories, Mohenn was already a well-known brand among his friends and family but now he decided to go for a larger scale.

Then still a full-time employee at British American Tobacco, Murenga took the plunge and re-branded Mohenn into a luxury brand that specialises in leather bags and functional accessories. This hot new Mohenn brand was officially launched in Swakopmund in August 2017 and after two years on the market made its debut at the Windhoek Fashion Week in November 2019.

When Murenga first ventured into making leather accessories, a trusted tailor did most of the cutting and hand stitching. But after spending time in the tailor’s workshop, doing his own research on making leather products and practicing at every given opportunity, Murenga has picked up some basic skills and does some of the work himself. “When you are passionate about something, you start learning everything you can about it. I have been using a professional tailor from the beginning but now I have learnt how to cut patterns by myself,” he says proudly.

Some people criticised my work but I took it all as positive criticism because without it, you will never grow or learn.

“That was the best experience ever! Growing up I never had people clapping hands for me, so it meant everything that people applauded my work,” Murenga says of his fashion week debut. While the experience brought him much acclaim, it also served as part of a learning curve. “Some people criticised my work but I took it all as positive criticism because without it, you will never grow or learn.”

Initially only imported leather was used for Mohenn accessories but since late last year Murenga has also been sourcing some of the leather in Namibia. He hopes that one day his brand will be 100% Namibian.

Mohenn products are available via the official website www.mohenn.com. Follow Mohenn on Instagram @mohenn_.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant and fashion writer. Contact her via Twitter @rukeeveni or Instagram @rukeekaakunga.