THE ART OF A WOMAN: NAGA Naturals On Creating Sustainable Solutions Through Nature’s Beauty

By Thembile Legwaila

As the late female stalwart Margaret Thatcher once matter-of-factly proclaimed, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” This is a quote that can be used to promote the intentional action that women exude effortlessly, and one that can be evidenced by so many historical events that were championed and seen through to their successful end by women.

Being multi-faceted and purposeful allows women to take what others may consider insignificant and minute in functionality, multiplying it into something useful and beneficial to so many. Whether it is creating a meal from the most minimal of ingredients or more significantly, creating a livelihood for all through one singular skill or effort, if there’s one thing a woman will do, it will be to make use of what’s before her to protect and preserve for the future. The rise of green beauty right here in beautiful Botswana, the home to an environment overflowing with useful natural resources is a prime example of this playing out.

Mishingo Aron on seizing an opportunity

In 2021, after running a beauty, cosmetic and personal care brand called NAGA Earth, a young Motswana entrepreneur named Mishingo Aron, noticed a gap and a challenge in her industry when the acquisition of raw materials and supplies became more difficult by the day. Choosing to do what women do best, creating something out of almost nothing and taking action, Aron took matters into her own hands, sliding herself into her own supply chain and started NAGA Naturals; a wholesale supply store specializing in luxurious and environmentally friendly raw products. Intention has always been a part of Aron’s entrepreneurial journey with her fast-growing NAGA empire, “Sustainability and natural products will always go hand-in-hand. This is also why we’ve made it a point to also go into making sustainable packaging. For me it was important that my customers were not only receiving a quality natural cosmetic product but one that was packaged in such a way that it didn’t run the risk of destroying the environment when disposed of,” says the 30-year-old business owner.

NAGA (meaning “the bush”) Naturals (referring to the utilization of materials sourced directly from nature) uses raw resources “from the bush” to create bio-degradable packaging which when rid of its contents, can be re-planted into the ground and grown into something else that can continue to be of use to the next person. Incorporating preservation into their packaging also affords customers longer usage of the products within the packaging. Sustainable packaging such as glass bottles instead of plastic, also ensures that the composition of NAGA’s end products, such as body butters, essential oils and carrier oils are not compromised.

Ethical sourcing key to operational success

For Aron, sustainability in business goes beyond just the product and the packaging. For a woman who realized the opportunity to play a role in more than just one aspect in her supply chain, it is no surprise that ethical sourcing is also a key element of NAGA’s operating model. Using the sourcing of Shea Butter in Ghana as an example, Aron shares that this was important for her as a business owner.

“We are currently waiting for our membership with the global Shea community where we pay fair trade for female producers in Ghana who diligently process our Shea butter. It’s important for us to be aligned with fair trade policies, which also gives our customers more comfort and pride in using our product.”

The attention to detail, the desire to ensure that all involved are paid and treated fairly and most importantly, the need to ensure that history, culture and tradition is carried through to the end-product, are all qualities that are consistent with that of being a woman. These are also qualities Aron credits her late grandmother with instilling in her.

“I started NAGA Earth because of my late grandmother; I learnt everything I know about indigenous oils from her. I distinctly recall during my younger years when she would take me into the bush and show me different trees and the sap they produced and how she would educate me on what worked best for which part of my body. This is something that has stuck with me all these years and inspired me to start this business. My only wish is to also carry this rich history over into the next generation after me.”

Looking to the future of this eco-beauty empire has required its owner to continuously take stock of the inputs the eco-system that continues to drive and steer this unique ship possess, and more importantly, the advantage that being a woman has played in her executing her own role in Botswana’s preservation and environmental protection efforts.

Historically, specifically in Botswana, processing of morula oils from the nut and the collection of the nuts, are activities carried out by women. In Ghana, it’s well-known that the process of manufacturing shea butter for cosmetic use is also spearheaded by women in various communities. A woman will always know the importance of creating something useful out of raw materials. If not to feed and maintain her family directly and literally, it’s to create some sort of further income to do the same indirectly. Innovating in order to get things done and to take care of those around them is what women do so inherently well, and NAGA Naturals’ growing empire of sustainable cosmetic and personal care solutions, from supply to end-product is an incredible example of this.

About NAGA Naturals

NAGA Naturals is an eco-luxury wholesale supply store specializing in raw natural butters, essential/carrier oils, hydrosols, waxes, candle making supplies, soap making supplies, and preservatives. NAGA Naturals also offers candle-making classes for entrepreneurs hoping to go into the business of candles. For more information on NAGA Naturals visit @naganaturals on Instagram, Naga Naturals on Facebook or email naganaturals@gmail.com.