The Journey of Olli & Rose: From Little Woodpecker to a Thriving Leather Brand

Somewhere between running around, changing nappies, and putting a baby to sleep, I finally get a moment to write this. No, I’m not a mom—just an aunt. A 23-year-old, self-employed dreamer at the time, winging life and lucky enough to spend every day with my sister.

Honestly, I stare at the screen, trying to put it all into words. But I need to hurry—because in an hour, little hands and feet will be all over my laptop.

The Beginning: Little Woodpecker

In 2014, Yolandi started Little Woodpecker—driven by a fear of being average, a deep love for people, and an undeniable determination to succeed. For four years, those values kept the brand alive and growing.

But the journey wasn’t always smooth. On November 20, 2018, we lost our dad. Just months before, on February 19, 2018, Jordan Lee was born. Life became a whirlwind—missed meetings, postponed plans, family gatherings, and adapting to a newborn. Yet, somehow, through all the chaos, inspiration found us.

Turning Struggles into Growth

We wanted Little Woodpecker in more stores. We knew rejection. We knew struggle. But we also knew persistence. We laughed as we walked from shop to shop, determined to make it work—because life’s too short to be stiff and serious!

That same day, by accident—or maybe fate—we wandered into a kiddies’ store. Something clicked. Decorating Jordan’s nursery had sparked a love for the woodland theme, and suddenly, the idea for Little Fox was born.

We put on our big-girl shoes and got to work. Our first attempt? Designing our very first pair of Jordan Lee Leather Booties.

We jumped in the car, drove to a fabric shop—clueless but determined. Should we go with black and white? Neutrals? Wait... what fabric do you even use for a bib? The learning curve was steep, but exhilarating.

(And don’t get me started on patterns—that’s a story for another day.)

From Little Fox to Olli & Rose

Little Fox was always meant for more. Maybe it lingered in the woods for a while, but it was destined to grow.

That little idea? It evolved into Olli & Rose (Pty) Ltd.

Looking Back—And Moving Forward

The words above were written in 2019—filled with both confidence and uncertainty. Who would have thought, on that very day, how life would shape us into what we are today?

Now, in 2025, we stand proud.

We’ve expanded into our second premises, with a team of 11 incredible people. The journey has been filled with learning curves, moments of doubt, and big milestones. But through it all, one thing remains certain—our dad can see us, and we know he’s proud.

He would have loved our team. He would have treated them with kindness, respect, and a good dose of banter—just like we do. And we know he’d be right in the mix, making jokes, lifting spirits, and reminding us that work should always come with a little laughter.

We love selling because we believe in what we create. We love explaining our products to clients because we know every stitch, every detail, and every reason why they’re built to last.

A Brand Built to Last

Our range has grown into a full collection of handcrafted leather goods—because we wanted to create something timeless, durable, and meant to last a lifetime.

We’ve faced fear. We’ve felt vulnerable. And yet—we made it through a global pandemic.

In 2022, we moved into our first space at Edgemead Business Park, only to realize within months that we needed something bigger. And now, in 2025, we’re thriving in our second, much larger premises.

(And yes—there are still little hands reaching for our laptops!)

At every expo, at every event, our family has been by our side. And then there was Gareth, Yolandi’s husband—who made his home our foundation for years, giving us the space to build something greater than we ever imagined.

The Only Way to Grow is to Change

The only way to live is to grow. The only way to grow is to change. The only way to change is to learn. And the only way to learn is to embrace challenges, ideas, and opportunities.

DREAMS DON’T WORK UNLESS YOU DO.

We often wish our dad could take a walk through our factory—the very same business that started in a 36m² garage and has now grown into a 300m² factory.

But we know he’s watching.

And if he were standing here today, he’d probably smile, nod with pride, and say:

“Shoe, mooi my kinders... YOU DID IT.”

We love having you here. And we can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next.