In the words of Oreneile Archie: Empowering Women Through Textiles with Eve Textiles

In the bustling mining towns of Orapa and Letlhakane, 32-year-old Oreneile Archie is building more than a business, she is building a legacy of women’s empowerment through her company, Eve Textiles. Specialising in corporate wear, PPE, and school uniforms, Eve Textiles is proudly women-led, intentionally designed to create opportunities for women in a field where they are often underrepresented.

The story of Eve Textiles began with something simple: shopping for pyjamas. After returning home from studying in Malaysia, Oreneile struggled to find sleepwear that matched both her quality standards and her budget. 

“At PEP, the items were affordable but not the quality I wanted. At Woolworths, the quality was great but too expensive,” she recalls. The experience sparked a thought, why should simple garments be inaccessible when they are so easy to make?

She took a chance. After directing a tailor to produce a custom pair, she realised the potential. She bought a sewing machine, without knowing how to sew, she then found a tailor, produced 10 pyjamas garments, and posted them on Facebook. “That same day, all 10 sold out,” she says. “That’s when I knew I had something.”

Starting the business was also a necessity. With limited employment opportunities in Letlhakane, particularly outside the mining sector, she needed a way to support herself and she created one. Faced with few options, she drew on her skills, creativity, and determination to establish a business that could generate income and provide stability. Her initiative reflects the resilience of women entrepreneurs who identify opportunities in challenging environments and take decisive action to secure their livelihoods.

But the early journey wasn’t easy. The biggest challenge was networking. “I didn’t know people with the same business mindset, and the few I found felt unreachable,” she explains. Joining the EntreprenHER Programme supported by the De Beers Group changed that. “Suddenly I was in a room with women like me. I could approach them, learn from them, ask for help.”

Beyond community, the programme taught her the power of record-keeping, a skill that transformed her operations. “If I didn’t start recording things properly, I wouldn’t even be able to answer simple questions about stock or finances.” The impact was immediate and profound.

Since implementing what she learned, Eve Textiles has experienced remarkable growth. “I went from 3 employees to 12,” she says proudly. “I used to struggle to pay rent. Now I work with contracts from the government, I work with big companies like Premier and Dinesh, and I received funding from The Botswana Youth Development Fund (YDF)”. This year alone, her business made BWP 500,000, up from just BWP 4,000 when she started. “Next year, I believe we’ll reach a million pula,” she says confidently.

The programme also strengthened her leadership. She learned to manage people better, create safer and more structured environments, and ensure staff are properly insured and supported. “People are a resource in business,” she says. “I’ve learned how to take care of them.”

Her ambitions continue to grow. Oreneile wants to take Eve Textiles global, using e-commerce platforms to sell clothing beyond Botswana. “I want my products to reach the world,” she says with a smile.

When asked what women entrepreneurs need most, she is thoughtful and direct:
Safe, women-only spaces; educating men and boys about harassment; and accessible funding tailored to women. She stresses the need to formalise women-owned small businesses early and ensure they are protected through insurance.

From a simple pair of pyjamas to a thriving clothing manufacturer, Oreneile Archie is proof that curiosity, courage, and community can transform a single idea into a powerful enterprise, one that uplifts not only the founder, but the women she intentionally brings along.

About EntreprenHER
EntreprenHER is a UN Women programme that was originally launched as AWOME (Accelerating Women-Owned Micro-Enterprises) in 2017 and is supported by De Beers Group. The programme supports women micro-entrepreneurs in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, reaching approximately 3,500 women. By providing training, mentorship, and access to markets, EntreprenHER empowers women to grow, formalise, and sustain their businesses. Learn more about the De Beers EntreprenHER programme here: https://www.debeersgroup.com/about-us/case-studies/2025/entreprenher

About UN Women:
UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. We are trusted partners for advocates and decision-makers from all walks of life and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. Learn more about the impact of De Beers’ partnership with UN Women’s HeForShe initiative here: https://www.heforshe.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/HeForShe_Impact_Report_2025.pdf