The Wonder Women of Malta

Business Wisdom from 15 years of Creative Purpose 

Leaving permanent employment to redefine her purpose and goals, Maltese artist and entrepreneur Stephanie Borg couldn’t have predicted how integral she would eventually become to the preservation of Malta’s cultural heritage.  It is no exaggeration to say that 15 years of creating products that have become prized treasures in many people’s homes (even making their way to different corners of the world) have turned Stephanie herself into something of a Maltese treasure. Her award by the SME Malta Business Awards for “Local Cultural Contributor” is surely proof of the place she has quietly and modestly carved out in the fabric of the national identity.

So the first edition of the new blog series, “The Wonder Women of Malta”, is the perfect opportunity to share the wealth of lessons that emerged from a recent SHE members’ event held in Stephanie’s beautiful Rabat store. 

Embracing change and rediscovery

Interestingly, Stephanie’s entrepreneurial narrative didn’t start with a grand vision or a meticulously crafted business plan.  Instead, its origins lay in life’s unpredictable twists and turns.  Following a significant upheaval in her personal life, she found herself at a crossroads, disillusioned with her life’s path and feeling unfulfilled in her career.  After years as a graphic designer, Stephanie longed to be free from management briefs and external directives.  Fueled by the desire to reclaim her creative autonomy, she left her job, the risky move leading her to seek solace and inspiration in daily life around her and look to her artistic skills for a new perspective.  Observing Malta’s different environments, from nature to urban locales, through (as the artist herself says), the eyes of a tourist, she started sketching, drawing and painting. 

This would subsequently mark the inception of her eponymously-named business, her initial foray into self-employment involving a collection of intricate ink drawings and greeting cards.  Starting out as a homestead business exhibiting at Malta’s established artisan market stalls, Stephanie Borg® has since evolved into a stunning retail haven and online shop. 

Lesson: Bold leaps can lead to reinvention, autonomy and the discovery of your true path in life.

Drawing Inspiration from Heritage and Culture

Stephanie’s journey is deeply intertwined with her Maltese heritage and her time in the Middle East.  A childhood fascination with the tiles in traditional Maltese homes provided a canvas for some of her very first products.  She now possesses an archive of 400 patterns (from photographing and salvaging tiles discarded from construction sites) which continue to serve as an inspiration for her creative expression and product range.  Meanwhile, six years in Oman exposed her to vibrant colours and hues. The region’s unique kaleidoscope of patterns all indelibly influenced Stephanie’s artistic style, imbuing it with a bold, eclectic flair that she admits would not have occurred without such exposure to an alternative culture given that European trends are more dominated by dark and neutral colours.

Innovation and Diversification

Stephanie’s business longevity has required constantly staying on her toes re product development.  “One of the things about running this type of business on a small island like Malta is that people regularly expect the next new thing”, the creativepreneur says.  So ideas must come from somewhere and just like any artist, she goes through stages of intense creative fertility.   Whether drawing inspiration from travels, the Maltese surroundings or the circle of life (including personal bereavement), Stephanie’s capacity for innovation – coupled with a patient intuition on when to release new products – has been a key tenet of her business strategy, driving her brand evolution and strengthening its product offering.  

By reimagining and repurposing, she has been able to create unique and desirable products that resonate with local customers, the island’s visitors and an international clientele.  Then there is diversification.  Extending beyond selling, the Stephanie Borg® brand now offers rental of the Nwar dinnerware collection for special occasions as well as tablescape design services.  Merging creativity with financial viability while staying true to one’s USP is no easy task.  Stephanie has had to strike the balance between aesthetically pleasing and also commercially successful products to ensure operational sustainability.

Lesson: A willingness to experiment and seek new sources of inspiration is essential for a creatively-driven business to stay relevant.  

Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship

Stephanie admits the transition from solitary artist to successful business owner has naturally had its trials.  Like any business owner, she has experienced periods of self-doubt and financial strain and candidly speaks of the weight of running a small business testing her and causing overwhelm. Yet she has repeatedly found resolve when facing adversity (even likening chance meetings or unexpected phone calls to divine intervention helping to reignite her passion and determination and reconfirm she is on the right path).  “When you are open, things happen..and those things can be what keep you going,” she adds.

Lesson: Obstacles are inevitable in business. But resilience and an open mind about opportunities for growth can help you overcome them.

Commercial continuity has also involved recognising the need to build a strong team of people to shoulder the load of running a business.  Delegating tasks yet still preserving the essence of one’s brand is daunting for many entrepreneurs but Stephanie has been careful to find people that are aligned with her service proposition and therefore ensure a cohesive and professional output.

Lesson: Knowing when to adapt and delegate can be the key to survival and long-term success.

Cultivating a Legacy of Excellence

Two more core values in Stephanie’s operating toolkit are honouring one’s authenticity and maintaining high standards.  Unswayed by external pressures to conform to the ‘conveyor-belt’ commercial route, Stephanie has held firm to her identity and direction.  Every product is infused with a distinctive blend of heritage, superb quality and attention to presentation, differentiating her brand from the conventional souvenir market.  From her eye-catching and iconic tile and doors ranges to the exquisite Nwar dinnerware collection to the breathtaking Mediterranea cup and saucer series named after real people, each creation is instantly and unmistakably recognisable as a Stephanie Borg® creation.  

Such authenticity and excellence has earned her repeat customers who have become unofficial brand ambassadors, resonating with the brand and the stories behind the products – this writer included.  (These principles have also quietly played a role in elevating the standards of craftsmanship of her peers.)  

Lesson: Total clarity on your brand identity and knowing where not to compromise are two business superweapons. 

Fostering Connection and Cultural Celebration

Central to Stephanie’s journey is her sense of social responsibility and giving back to the community.  Her collaboration with a church is an example of the power of shared vision and art serving as a catalyst for positive change.  Part of the proceeds from her (now annual) limited-edition scarf collection are going towards the restoration of old paintings by Maltese artist, Salvatore Micallef.  As Stephanie aptly says, “something new is helping to give back to the old for us all to keep”.

Given all this, it’s no exaggeration to say that the artist sees her work almost as a platform beyond commerce or business operations. “If money was my motivation, really and truly I would have packed it all up after two or three years,” she confides.  Instead, Stephanie seeks to elevate Maltese traditions, spark conversations and foster a deeper appreciation for Malta’s rich cultural tapestry.  Clearly it is working, if the growing awareness among the younger generation is anything to go by, including stories of school projects on ‘the successful female entrepreneur’.  

Lesson: Engaging with meaningful causes can increase brand loyalty and foster a positive reputation.

Looking Towards the Future

The many accolades adorning the walls of Stephanie’s Rabat location may be testament to the growth of Stephanie Borg®, the brand.  But Stephanie Borg, the woman, remains firmly grounded and led by a singular creative purpose.  Her evolution from graphic designer to entrepreneur displays business acumen, endurance and unwavering connection to her roots.  Providing a guiding light for future generations of artists and entrepreneurs, her trajectory is an intriguing one that reflects many of the realities of entrepreneurship and is relatable to those of us navigating the terrain of running a business.  

A Wonder Woman of Malta indeed.

Images by Diana Iskander

Feature photo by Justine Ellul

From the very start, the essence of SHE has been about support, empowerment, education and community for established and aspiring female entrepreneurs of any background or industry.

Another key element of the SHE ethos is collaboration.  Anyone who has attended our live events will have felt this firsthand. We’ve been proud to count local fashion designer Carla Grima (a former panel speaker of ours) amongst our valued members for some time. In the SHE spirit of community, Carla invited me to one of her beachwear events and later, her first Silk in Motion concept show in 2021. In the stunning setting of the Phoenicia Palm Court lounge, guests forgot about the intense Malta summer heat and let themselves drift off to another world through poetry, piano and fashion.

A year on, Carla Grima has pulled off another successful symphony of colour, fabrics, sound and vision. Her atelier’s second (even more ambitious) Silk in Motion show skillfully showcased this season’s collection Holiday Home, presenting models in the ‘alternative catwalk’ setting of the magical Palazzo Parisio gardens while bringing together a talented diverse group of performance artists.

Stunning designs, beguiling patterns, sumptuous fabrics, mesmerising performances, transcendental music, the intoxicating energy of flamenco dancer Francesca (La Chica) and her partner Andrej, the uplifting rhythms of the Kora instrument playfully worked by Haruna Kuyateh, the graceful movement of dancer Zoe Camilleri synching her body to Yun Cai’s soulful piano improvisations, the lilting voice and evocative words of Julia Ripard and a cast of ‘real women’ models. As Carla herself described it, “silks and prints being brought to life through sound and movement”. This was no small accomplishment! And Sarah and I were delighted to be among the lucky guests soaking it all up.

So as collaboration and community are two of SHE’s guiding principles, it was only natural that we talked to Carla about her latest collaborative project:

Photo 1 by Justine Ellul. Photo 2 by Matt Thompson.

What was the initial inspiration behind this collaboration of the arts? 

The fledgling idea of a preview event was born when I was on honeymoon last year and thinking about new marketing ideas. That may sound a bit unromantic, but when you’re away, you have time to open yourself up to more creativity. I was chatting with Yun after connecting with her on Instagram and she mentioned her piano improvisation abilities. As the Phoenicia had given me space for a month, I thought of this combination concept of sound and fabric. Another spark was that during the pandemic, design houses/studios had to seek new ways of showcasing their work. So we in fact found ourselves with this bigger platform to be more conceptual and creative rather than following the standard runway routine (which has always done its job but it was great to do something fresh).

What was the number one objective that you wanted to achieve with the Holiday Home show?

To create an experience that was about selling a moment to our guests, not just selling clothing. I wanted the guests to feel relaxed, understand the fabrics more and be absorbed in the performances. So the main objective was to give a fresh experience to our audience and give them a feeling of serenity in a beautiful space.

What specific experience did you want your audience to have watching the performance?

Several elements actually. I really wanted people to feel calm in the chosen space so they could take in all of Julia’s words, reflect on the day they’d just had and the possibility of what tomorrow/the weekend/a trip could bring. So the marketing strategy was also geared towards this absorption of the performances and visuals rather than a pure ‘collection-led’ approach. The focus was the ‘restart, reboot, refresh, renew’ concept of our collection and the story we wanted to tell through the clothing.

Photo by Ines Bahr

What motivated you to select this particular set of artists?

They were all chosen in different ways and the aim was to find a cast that could embody the Mediterranean theme via their looks, talents and personalities.

Yun and I have a good creative bond from working together on various projects and I think we’ve helped one another change our outlook and widen our audience (which is what collaboration is about). I love how we inspire and influence each other in different ways. She knew I wanted to expand the concept after testing it via our 2021 preview event and was excited about this new idea. So Yun was a given; frankly, she couldn’t have escaped even if she wanted to!

Julia is an exceptional writer and visual content creator. I knew I could trust her to describe my thoughts and concepts with her poetic romantic writing and reading style.  Thankfully, even though she’d just got married, she said yes so the event took place the day before she left on honeymoon.

La Chica is actually my cousin. I’ve followed her career closely since my teenage years but hadn’t worked with her before. I’ve always been in awe of her and Andrej’s passion as performers and I wanted to inject this into our show. This connection of two individuals unaffected by what’s around them, forgetting life’s busy-ness and just performing for each other, losing themselves as if everyone else is invisible…was something I felt would be so special for the audience. Also, a while ago I made a sample piece which I thought would be great on someone like La Chica with her intense movement style. So I produced a sample in a heavier silk, silk satin, to give a fuller movement, sent her a photo with my (probably abstract unrealistic sounding!) idea as I felt she and Andrej would fit this scene perfectly. And it all came together as they were coming to Malta already.

Haruna was a late lucky find. We wanted the show to include strings and we explored classical options of cello/violin. It didn’t pan out so we started thinking of alternative string ideas and that’s when Anna saw Haruna busking in Valletta on the kora. The original plan was to place him in a casual lounge setting but subsequent video research revealed we’d actually stumbled across an amazing discovery! Such an original calming sound, historical flavour and the instrument itself is a work of art.

In Zoe, we found the perfect lyrical contemporary dancer. From the way she moves with her long limbs and hair, she just looks like a mediterranean goddess. My mind literally placed her in the Palazzo Parisio garden with the silk doing its thing on her body.

And finally, the gorgeous women who walked for us: clients, friends, colleagues…just women of different relatable looks from my pregnant sister in law to our sales manager. I’d have loved to have more participants but felt awkward approaching others as people are still so used to seeing typical runway models. Nevertheless, it was a fantastic group of women (and it was obvious they understood the brand so it was really special).

Did the final event meet your expectations?

This is an interesting question. Overall yes. It was a great event: the venue, mood and comments were beautiful. Things that I wasn’t so happy with were final styling details that we missed in the excitement. In fact, I’m already looking forward to discussing the next one to see how and what needs to be worked on in favour of a more perfected immersive show.

Did you receive feedback that matched your desired outcome – or that even surprised you?

Feedback definitely matched our intentions and I loved that the audience felt a sense of delight as they didn’t know what to expect. The biggest surprise was that we didn’t receive negative comments from guests regarding their visibility being blocked by trees and garden foliage etc. Despite repositioning the seating, it was impossible to totally prevent this, hence inviting guests to roam around. I think people just took in the surroundings and weren’t bothered by a flower obstructing this or that as it was just part of the experience.

Photo by Justine Ellul

The same week, you also delivered a presentation“From Paper to Hanger” for the latest SHE member meetup, describing the process by which your garments are brought to life from sketchpad drawings to finished boutique item.  Similarly, can you describe the journey you went on to accomplish this show from original idea to physical Silk in Motion performance?

I love this question and it’s probably going to take me a while to answer it!

So first, we held the preview event to test this idea of using expressive performance as a new way of exhibiting and launching products. (Not an actual collection launch as it was mid-season; purely a tryout of the Silk in Motion idea.)

Then came the post-preview analysis with the amazing Anna who works with me on productions/shoots and whose strong eye for detail and visual perfectionism I rely on. We looked at what went well, not so well, people’s responses, the movement of the clothes, the diversity of the guests (not just a fashion-focussed crowd).

From that, we started shaping this July’s event starting with the venue choice. Despite considering several locations, Palazzo Parisio had always been the main contender in my mind – especially for its amphitheatre-style back area and other potential sections.

Next came storyboarding: looks, scenes, the concept of the Mediterranean lifestyle (longevity, happiness, vibrancy) behind the Holiday Home collection.
Menu choice involved me creating recipes with a colleague that used ingredients matching the Med theme (eg. mulberries (more specifically the Sicilian gelsi), homemade lemonade and even the watermelon all from the Palazzo Pariso garden).

Then the integral search for performers who were not just talented artists but would feel confident wearing our garments.

Added to this was invitation design, the guest list, sponsor pitches (again companies who fitted our ethos)…

We didn’t use a makeup artist and initially not even a hair stylist in order to keep things real and show everyone’s natural beauty.

There was no full dress rehearsal or soundcheck. Even Yun’s opening outfit was changed last minute in favour of a different colour. So it was a huge amount of admin, scheduling, faith, pressure, challenges, research, improvisation, anticipation and winging it.

What for you were the two biggest triumphs of the evening?

One was the sheer energy of the women who walked in the show. And the guests’ feedback reflected that. I feel we got what we set out to do i.e. the women were so happy to have done it and the audience really appreciated it. Secondly, people felt really treated and enjoyed how fresh the show felt. It’s wonderful knowing you’ve created something that achieved that. We were also absolutely blessed with our backstage team, the photographers and videographers.

And are you willing to reveal the biggest challenges of the project?!

Yes, a) the biggest one was coordinating it all. I really enjoy event management but ultimately, I realised I needed someone else to do the running around and take that weight off me. I did take advantage of offers of help but still thought I could do it all and micromanage the whole process. There were details that could have been better handled by a right hand person ticking those tasks off.
b) There were also final styling detail challenges, such as accessories and even the hang of the silk shifting when the models walked from the dressing area to the stage.  So I wish I’d been near the stage to rearrange these things on them.
c) When you have sponsors, you feel the  pressure to deliver everything you promised them. Admittedly, I was organised, sent logistics checklists and frequently communicated with the sponsors pre-show, during the event and post-show. But that last hour before the show was awfully stressful knowing that I couldn’t rewind and redo the event and therefore had to be sure I’d done everything possible to please the sponsors.
d) I had moments of not wanting to go ahead with the event because after the long buildup to it, ironically many aspects were rushed in the last 24 hours. And Yun’s piano being transported and placed on a stage that had been built above an actual well literally kept me up at night. I hoped people didn’t enter the garden the next day to find a hole in the ground!
e) Ideally, I’d have had more time to just pause, take a breath and think about my own needs instead of being purely focused on pleasing the audience, performers, venue and sponsors.

Photos by Matt Thompson

Perhaps due to cultural reasons or small island syndrome, there seems to be a historic reluctance for individuals in Malta (in any industry) to collaborate with each other. Do you think the tide is changing? (And if so, in what sense?)

I do feel people do not collaborate enough and it’s hard to pinpoint why. Perhaps it’s a fear of being copied or a matter of confidence. I can’t say I see enough collaboration or feel the tide is changing (despite myself working on several collabs such as the Malta Creative Collective). I do feel collaboration makes us stronger. But that said, my experience has been easier when working with people in other creative sectors rather than with people in my own industry. I would probably join forces more with fashion designers once my own concept grows further and l feel even more able to express my studio’s identity.  I do feel everyone should just be more open to having these collab  conversations.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs and/or artists who are interested in collaborating with others but are hesitant/inexperienced?

Yes. If you feel you’re less experienced than the other person, put a presentation or a design deck together that shows you’re serious. Alternatively, make sure you’ve got your ideas clear in your own mind before making an approach. It’s easy to get sidetracked, nervous or come across as uncertain about your reasons for seeking an alliance. If nothing else, think of it as a fun creative conversation. Who doesn’t like to receive a message from someone who admires what they do enough to invite them for coffee and listen to them talk about their work?! This is especially true amongst the creative industry as it can be inspiring working with new or undiscovered people. That’s what a lot of collaboration is: growing a career, helping someone (like Yun) get themselves out there. working with them to launch an idea that they’ll enjoy continuing to develop on their own. It’s the same every time I work with fresh faces in shoots or shows…people who aren’t even in the industry but have a great energy to work with so you feel you’re discovering and nurturing each other. This is often more rewarding than working with people who are already established.

Will you do it again?!

Definitely! I just wish it had been a two-day event allowing us to iron out those ‘unfinished’ day one details. I know that’s just behind-the-scenes perfectionism and the desire to cross everything off our creative wishlist. However, I know Silk in Motion is a concept we will be growing and expanding with each performance. Everyone involved gets excited about the next event and we welcome constructive criticism and honesty. We look forward to bringing you the next one!

Last but not least: the cast of collaborators. These are the people who helped Carla bring her visionary concept to life:

Production: Anna Peftieva of Moonman Studios

Venue: Palazzo Parisio

Audio: Besteam Audio

Poetry: Julia Ripard

Pianist: Yun Cai

Flamenco & Cajon: Puerto Flamenco

Kora Musician: Haruna Kuyateh

Dancer: Zoe Camilleri

Models: Moira Chetcuti, Ana Fil Fidanovska, Emma Coleiro, Natasha Kosatka, Hannah Giacchino, Emily Ripard, Lauren Emily Ripard, Jessica Grima.

Backstage: Livia Arrigo, Rebecca Delia

Hair: Galea’s Hair Salon

Sponsors: Neosephiri – Whats in Your Glass – Art Diamond Boutique – Uber – Palazzo Parisio

Photographers: Matt Thompson Photography – Justine Ellul Photography –  Ann-Sophie – Inesbahr_photography

Videographers: Blonde and Giant

Home of Carla’s creations: Salt&C boutique

Thank you Carla for these gems of wisdom, learnings and insight which we hope are of benefit to the SHE community and beyond. A little island of big ideas…

Written by Prabjit Chohan-Patel

Feature photo credit: The Concept Stadium

We caught up with Nicole Borg to find out what drove her to found Sikura, her plans for the future of this social enterprise and why it is so important …

Nicole, we’d love to get to know you a little better. What is it that you do and what is your professional background?

I am a 26-year-old B.Hons. Communications with Theatre Studies graduate. Apart from establishing myself within the marketing, PR and journalism fields, I have been an active citizen through various local VOs and NGOs, predominantly with leadership organisation JCI Malta, where apart from serving the organisation for around 6 years in different positions, I led the organisation as National President throughout 2021.

Through JCI Malta I worked on endless projects including leading the JCI Malta Awards (TOYP & Friendly Business Awards) in 2018, Step Up For Europe – Make it Count project in 2019 and the Buy A Meal (receiving JCI Europe and Charlemagne Youth Prize Recognitions) and the National Debating Competition projects in 2020 among various other initiatives, events and projects. Recently I’ve been leading JCI Malta’s Change Politics project aimed at encouraging young people to believe in their own voice and themselves, while also understanding that they have a place in the local political scene and their vote matters. I was made JCI Senator 78949 in 2020, receiving the biggest honour within JCI, only given to those who truly go the extra mile for the organisation, and in turn society.

Outside of JCI Malta, I previously worked as a journalist for over three years and have now expanded my focus on content writing, marketing and PR.

I am also a singer and am ½ of the local band The Velveteens. In my free time I’m busy buying and reading books to add to my ever-growing library.

You’ve recently come up with an idea that seeks to solve a social issue. Can you tell us all about it?

Yes indeed, my latest project: Sikura. The project came about following the two assassination of innocent women in Malta this year. The killing of Paulina Dembska, and shortly after that of Rita Ellul, has seen an uproar in Malta with many people demanding action to be taken and insisting things should change. I for one, wanted to say something too. However, from my past experience working with several NGOs on several relevant causes, I found that change doesn’t come from just saying that it should happen. Change starts with those people who stand up and do something about it and through the support of those who believe in what they do.

The aim behind Sikura is to supply locally (whether through importing or designing) a line of devices that are trendy and subtle, for women to use if and when they find themselves in a moment of crisis that’s abusive or life threatening. The brand will aim to offer as many different devices as well as services as possible that support women in feeling safer when alone.

Throughout the past months, several partners and potential partners were identified in order to start supplying the local market with several devices that would support women in feeling safer in Malta’s streets. The aim is to provide more and more services and devices throughout the coming months in order to help equip as many people with varied budgets as possible.

So far, Sikura has partnered up with the Malta Self-Defence Academy in order to provide several self-defence classes and courses. While a device is fantastic to have, until help arrives women need to be equipped to also defend themselves and that is why we felt the need for our brand to partner up with an academy and provide classes as part of its portfolio.

Apart from the self-defence classes, Sikura is also launching this crowdfunding campaign with its first product: the Sikura Alarm Bracelet.

Have you always been entrepreneurial or has the rising concern around women’s safety, coupled with your core values, driven you to pursue this path?

Ever since I was young, I always wanted to do something more I just had no idea what. I remember as a child, I used to learn about how to create my own jewellery and how to design note-pads. Growing up I ventured into baking and music with the aim to do something different other than a normal 9-5 job.

Understanding I lacked certain entrepreneurial skills, partially due to lack of confidence and self-belief, I joined JCI Malta, that essentially helped me achieve the kind of self-belief I was lacking. Through JCI Malta I also found a huge passion for projects and tasks that were of service to humanity, and I believe through that I understood why in the past, all the ideas I had to develop an entrepreneurial venture didn’t develop: they lacked the element of helping people, the element of making a situation better.

Therefore, when these women got murdered this year, and I heard the outcry for someone to do something, I told myself maybe that someone could be me. And that is how and why Sikura was created.

While it is my first real entrepreneurial venture, it is much more than that. When I explain to people what Sikura is and what it aims to achieve I always say that the end goal for me here is not to become a millionaire off of a bad situation, but I’m starting Sikura with the aim of getting to a point where I do not need to sell another device ever again, because women truly feel safe and respected in society.

Can you share your process in exploring this business idea?

When I convinced myself I had what it takes to try and do something about the situation for women in Malta, I started to research possible avenues and companies that I could partner up with to make this a reality. Through contacting these companies and personal research I learnt a lot about what kind of devices and services were already available on the market and how such devices and services where performing. Through that, I learnt what I wanted Sikura to be and what I didn’t want it to be.

Additionally, I looked into the local market, speaking to women of all ages and backgrounds and trying to understand the kind of situations they faced and what they believe is needed to help them feel safer. In fact, prior to this research I had left things such as self-defence classes out of the remit of Sikura. However, I eventually found that this was a necessity, and that is why I included it as one of the offerings through Sikura.

How does the proposed product actually work?

Sikura does not aim to provide one single product – but several so that our clients are able to feel safe in a way that works for them. The crowdfund launched a few weeks back on Zaar is there to help me get the works on the Sikura website and online store done as well as cover costs related to brand creation.

So far, the products that are available are the self-defence classes:

> Personal/Individual session – Our individual training sessions can be held either indoors (within the academy premises in Fleur-de-Lys) or at your home. These sessions can be either one-to-one lesson or else you can share it with a training partner/friend. This allows you to receive full attention by the instructor.

> Group Self-Defence session – On a weekly basis, people can join an actual Martial Arts and take on a Kungfu/Self-Defence beginners’ class.

> Group Personalised workshops – Whether as a family or friends group or else looking at your next team building event for your employees, thanks to the Malta Self-Defence Academy, Sikura also offers a Kung fu/self-defence personalised workshop. This can be held either at the academy’s premises or else at a premises of your choice (office or home). This could be a one-off class or else a recurring session.

Apart from the self-defence classes, I also previously mentioned the Sikura Alarm Bracelet. This alarm bracelet is worn like a wristwatch and is therefore quickly accessible in case of dangerous and emergency situations. After all, every second counts in an emergency. By simply pushing the alarm button, a 120 dB loud alarm is activated, immediately deterring the attacker. The very loud sound (for comparison: a jet fighter taking off has approx. 125 dB) also alerts other people to help out.

What stage of the product development have you reached and how do you propose to proceed from here?

Apart from what I previously explained, I am currently continuing my search in locating the ideal products to make available through the Sikura platform, whether its through importing or putting together a local team of like minded individual to create a device that fulfills as many needs as possible when it comes to women safety.

What resources did you approach to get financing for your idea and how can readers that resonate with your purpose contribute to making this materialize?

The first source of funding I’ve launched is a crowdfund on the Zaar Crowdfunding Platform. This crowdfund was set up in order to help this project get the necessary capital to kickstart and establish itself locally. The first steps are securing a strong brand and an equally strong web platform and store for the Sikura brand.

Apart from selling products, the platform will include several blogs and initiatives around education on violence and discrimination based on gender. Additionally, through the crowdfunding campaign, those interested will also be able to pre-buy the Sikura Alarm Band, the first available Sikura device locally mentioned previously.

Those donating are able to benefit from several rewards, that can be found on our crowdfund page from here: https://zaar.com.mt/projects/sikura-a-brand-designed-to-keep-you-safe/

Additionally, those who want to donate smaller amounts than that available on the website, can reach out to us via the Sikura Facebook page so we can explain alternative ways to donate.

How would you describe your crowdfunding experience? Has it changed anything about your project in terms of production, concept, or your expectations about it?

The crowdfunding experience so far has given me great courage. Being close to reaching 50% of the €2,000 goal makes me feel like there are people out there who see this as a good temporary solution for them. The crowdfund has also helped me start locating people with whom I can eventually parter in order to create devices that truly assist women in feeling safer. My aim is to have a total of 5 different devices/services available by the end of 2022, and continuing to add on to this and expanding the ways in which Sikura can help women feel safer throughout the upcoming years.

Once you reach your crowdfunding goals, what are your next steps?

Once the crowdfund ends and positively reaches its goal, the work on the website will commence. Here, the aim is to get the platform up and running and ready for people to start purchasing their products. In the meantime, the work to establish Sikura as a company will also commence, as well as the purchasing of any stock required to ensure that there’s a basis to support our first Sikura clients.

Additionally, I will also be working to speaking to several women organisations and entities supporting women in need to locate women that can be part of the Sikura Programme that provides free devices to those who truly do not afford it. As I previously explained, the aim of Sikura is not to become a multi-million company, but to help as many women as possible feel safe, including those who might not have the money to pay for our products or services.

How can readers stay in touch and up to date with your social enterprise?

Those who would like to keep up to date with Sikura’s ventures can do so via Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Email and once the crowdfund is over via our website.

Best of luck Nicole, we look forward to continue to support you, and in turn all women, as your story with Sikura continues to unfold.

In today’s feature we sit down with co-owner of Eyeland Opticians, Helena Mamo, to talk about her journey in business development with the mission of taking eye-health in Malta to another level.

Helena, more affectionately known as Liggy, takes us through her story and explains where her love for the optical industry came about and the challenges faced operating in the Maltese private sector.

We’ll discuss the importance of regularly getting your eyes checked and how we should be doing a lot more to retain optimum eye and vision health in our lives.

Lets dive in ..

Liggy, what motivated you to go into your line of business and how did the Eyeland Opticians journey begin?

I come from a long line of opticians. Eyeland Opticians was founded by my brother, myself and our two cousins, over two decades ago, as one of many projects established in the optical industry. Pioneered by our grandfather, a pharmacist, who ventured into the optical industry over 80 years ago opening an iconic outlet in the heart of Valletta and then taken to another level by our father.

The first Eyeland store was opened in Mosta, which at the time was one of few opticians servicing the Northern area. After ten years in operation, our clients’ requests outgrew the shop, which is when we opened another shop at Pama Shopping Village, which fit the bill for our needs.

Can you give us a bit of a background of what the company offers in terms of products and services?

Both our stores have eye testing clinics which are attended by a vast range of Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and also Orthoptists, with the objective of meeting all eye care needs. From an eye test, to more complex issues, like diagnosis of eye conditions, squints and other eye related problems.

On the shop side, we pride ourselves on offering a vast range of high street, branded, designer and luxury optical frames and sunglasses and above all, a highly trained team of professional eye-wear specialists who can prescribe the most apt optical lenses and guide customers accordingly. We give a lot of importance to the customer journey and to fulfilling the specific needs of all types of customers.

What is it that you love about what you do?

As I mentioned earlier, my father is an optician, as was my grandfather so I was born and bred in the industry. I have been lucky enough to experience working in other sectors too, both here and overseas, but my heart lies here, so I naturally ended up working within the sector I know so well.

I particularly like the fact that there is a good mix between the fashion and the medical field, the creative and scientific. My role at Eyeland Opticians is an ancillary one, as my primary career focus is dedicated to Class Optical, a business-to-business operation, co-founded by my father, where I am the Chief Commercial Officer. My focus at Eyeland is related to marketing and sales while my brother is the GM.

How do you position the business in the market?

We endeavor to service all types of customers and their eye care needs. It is important to us that we cater to the specific budgets, whether a student, people just starting a family or their career path, an established professional, or a pensioner. So in truth we work hard to position ourselves across the entire market, albeit this sounds like an unrealistic objective.

We have an unusual formula since we are a brand, ‘Eyeland Opticians’ that concurrently promotes other brands; be it the eye-wear ones (Rayban, Dior, Prada, Oakley etc) or the optical lens brands (Class optical lenses and Zeiss optical portfolio), or contact lenses (Dailies, J+J Acuvue, Freshlook). In essence, this is a common optical store business model and while complex to manage, it allows us to target a wide audience range.

Does your business face any technological challenges?

Absolutely! The advent of e-commerce is challenging, but an exciting one to address.

We are currently working on developing a new website which we hope over time will bridge the in-store customer journey with the online one, merging some of the services. We consistently aim to adapt to the changes in customer buying habits and needs.

We are working hard to see how we can immerse new technologies into our operations, without interrupting all the energy and training our team undergoes to dispense optical frames and lenses that fit correctly. Ultimately, the only way for this to be done is physically in-store on our clients’ faces.

Over the past couple of years, we have shifted the ordering system for optical lenses and eye test appointments to digital. We introduced an online ordering software on tablets and for specifications like the marking of multi-focal lenses and ordering of RayBan and Oakley prescription lenses.

Most recently, we added a smart shopping service, in collaboration with the key brands we carry. This is a dedicated function that allows customers who do not find the frame or sunglasses that they are after, to actually search the full collection of that specific brand on their own portal and without any obligation. We then order the model for them, which will arrive in a few days for them to come and try on.

Do you consider your business to be in the health sector?

Yes, we are classified as selling semi-medical devices. We fall under both the health sector and the fashion accessory one, making it a rare combination which makes it all the more exciting as you bounce between discussing digital lens coatings, to the latest fashion trends of a specific eye-wear brand, to a new contact lens material that is about to be launched.

Would you say that getting your eyes checked is something that needs to be done regularly? Has this been somewhat overlooked and why is it so important?

It is advisable to have an eye test at least every two years even if there are no symptoms. This is important not only to assess one’s vision and any need for a spectacle correction, but also to assess the overall health of the eyes. In certain cases, such as diabetics, children, or anyone with a family history of any ocular problems such as glaucoma or macular degeneration, it is recommended that eye tests are held more frequently.

Is there a particular age where we should be more diligent with eye checks?

It is important that children’s vision is checked from an early age, especially when they start school, to ensure that their eyes are developing normally and that there are no squints or vision problems that can lead to a lazy eye.

Over the age of 40 years, many people start experiencing near vision problems and this can be solved through a number of options such as reading spectacles, varifocal spectacle lenses or even multi-focal contact lenses.

Anyone with a family history of Glaucoma (elevated eye pressure) should also start having regular eye tests over 40.

Over the age of 60, the incidence of other ocular conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration increases, so again it is advisable that eye tests are held more regularly.

In this day and age where adults and children alike move from one electronic device to another, what solutions do you offer that can help protect and prevent eye damage?

The increased use of digital devices, especially with children, is causing much more eye strain, dryness, tiredness and in certain cases headaches. Nowadays we know that when children spend long periods of time looking at close targets, this can increase the incidence of myopia (short sight). There are, in fact, a number of helpful recommendations that the eye practitioner can advise regarding ‘good computer use’.

This can vary from lubricating eye drops, the height and distance from the screen, the amount of time spent looking at the screen and especially spectacles with blue filter lenses or including a specific spectacle prescription when needed.

I’ve read a lot recently on the damage caused by the over-exposure of artificial blue light on the eyes but also on general well-being, can you elaborate on this for our readers ..

Digital devices emit blue light, which like Ultraviolet and Infra Red is a wavelength of light. Long periods of exposure to blue light can cause eye fatigue and also affect production of melatonin (a hormone that regulates our body clock). Blue screen filters block the blue light emitted from screens. We offer various solutions to combat this, from ready-made screen frames with attractive models for adults and kids alike, or for those with a spectacle prescription, we add a blue coating to their lenses.

Another interesting new product we represent are Zeiss Digital lenses designed for patients in the 25-45 age range who frequently use their mobile phones or tablets for stress-free viewing of digital devices. They are designed for all daywear and ideal for those who suffer from digital eye strain.

And finally, having a family and being active in other businesses as well – how do you manage to balance your time efficiently and effectively?

I see you left the hardest question for the last.

It is definitely not easy and there are many times when I feel like I am not maintaining that balance whereas there are some moments, less often, when I manage the mix perfectly.

I went through phases where I suffered from severe ‘mum-guilt’ (and have no doubt more is to come), but as time goes by, I realise that the mental stimulation my job provides me with is necessary for me to feel fulfilled and ultimately allows me to accomplish my motherly and wifely role more effectively.

I make it a point to be home when my daughter gets back from school so that I am present for homework and the usual after school extracurricular run, yet it bothers her that my phone is an extension of my hand. I do hope that I am setting a good example to her in terms of having a solid work ethic, being responsible and working hard towards your goals.  I also hope that I am giving her a good example of what women can achieve.  Of course, sometimes, my husband would be happier if we had more varied and exciting meals at dinner time, but I doubt this would be the case even if I didn’t work as cooking is not my strong point.

Whilst thanking Liggy for her time, we would like to applaud her for all her achievements and we wish her the best of luck in all her future business endeavors.

You can find Eyeland Opticians at PAMA shopping mall or Main Street, Mosta. To keep up with their products and the services they offer or book and eyetest; follow them here on Facebook and Instagram.