The Dye is Cast – and her name is Alice
In order for mohair to be successfully dyed, it needs a few critical components to change the flavour of the fibre – from old to new, from raw to colour and from one thing to another. It needs hot water, chemicals and a vessel in which to hold that fibre. And there’s no turning back once the process begins. This, I think, is much like Alice Connacher’s journey into the mohair industry.
As a young child, Alice would delight in accompanying her (maverick industry leader) father, Rob, to his offices. She would play in the factory, jump on the bales of wool, inhale the smell of natural fibre and listen in on Rob’s conversations with global partners and leaders. She came home filthy from the wool. She would absorb everything because somewhere deep inside of her the passion for raw fibre was awakened and at that ripe young age, she knew she wanted to be in the industry. As history would have it, it took a journey of deviations and potholes to get there, but get there she has! She doesn’t like to describe herself as an innovator, but her story begs otherwise.
When she left school, she wanted to join the family business but circumstances at the time didn’t allow for that. Not one for missing a beat, she decided to study law instead and within a few years qualified with a BA LLB. Mike Nurse Attorneys in Port Elizabeth promptly employed her and it was during her tenure there that she absorbed as much as she could about commercial law. “I was lucky to have been given work usually reserved for senior attorneys and so I expanded my knowledge rapidly,” she says.
Four years later, armed with her specialised experience, she left to join a Russian company in Amsterdam as their commercial lawyer, and it was here that her exposure to European and Russian cultures would positively influence her. “I learnt strategy from the Russians, to be direct from the Dutch, and intellect and sophistication from the Europeans!” she adds. Those four years proved to be specifically formative and have contributed to her skillset essential to her current role.
Alice shifted gears at a rapid rate when she decided to leave the Russian company and start her own legal consultancy online in the Netherlands. At that stage it was rare to go purely digital and, much to the surprise of some of her peers, she excelled in this role. Her confidence and sense of self-worth grew, and she felt she had arrived at the front door of her life.
Despite this success and excitement, Alice knew deep down that her passion for South Africa and the mohair industry had only increased with time, and it took a phone call from her dad to begin the process of returning to SA. At first her role was minimal and still based in the Netherlands, but gradually it became apparent to both her and her dad that she needed to move home.
“We began working together, side by side, and I was like a sponge, watching and listening to everything he had to offer,” she recalls.
“He is a legend in the industry, and I am so grateful he threw me in the deep end much of the time.” Because the family business was primarily wool-based and realising that she knew very little about the mohair industry, she jumped in and began formal training with the brokers, House of Fibre.
“They welcomed me with open arms for an entire year and I have to thank Pierre van der Vyver and Sandile Nzuza for giving up their time to allow me to immerse myself in their business.” She learnt fast. Pierre shared this about her. “Alice was a very likeable person and, from the word go, very interested in what we were doing, an eager learner without being a nuisance or intrusive. “She immediately took an interest in the personnel and cared what was happening in the warehouse. For example, she provided our guard dog a nice (expensive!) new mohair blanket to sleep on in the cold winter nights. That shows how caring and special she is.”
When dots are connected backwards, one can see how each turning point for Alice, contributed to her preparation for her role today – that of becoming the first female mohair buyer in South Africa. She is quick to point out that she isn’t comfortable with that title – that it is about the person and not the gender. And she would rather focus on the person who took the risk to employ and empower her.
Enter Andrew Seal. SIL Holdings (in the UK) is a large third-generation, family-owned business, specialising in textiles, fibres and fabrics. It sources natural fibres from worldwide origin markets and sells them to bespoke clients who are involved in processing, manufacturing and tailoring the finest fabrics or finished garments. The end product can be seen in the clothing finery offered by a few luxury brands – from a humble goat, to the garments worn by the rich and famous!
SIL Holdings was looking for an exclusive buyer and a chance discussion with one of Andrew’s tenants, who knew Alice, led to a simple WhatsApp conversation between Andrew and Alice. This paved the way for them to forge ahead with the possibility and eventuality of Alice becoming the SIL Holdings mohair buyer. This modern-day contract was concluded on WhatsApp! Alice is humbled by the opportunity that Andrew and SIL Holdings have given her. The company opened the door with its belief and confidence in her and she has walked firmly through it into a courageous, new world. “It was her intelligence, her insatiable curiosity and her family history and values that persuaded me to take a chance on her,” Andrew says. “She is up against some tough competition, but she has good people behind her and supporting her.”
Both cite trust and clarity in communication as key elements of their successful relationship. They have still to meet in person! As soon as COVID restrictions are lifted, Andrew will make his way to have tea with Alice. The support for Alice was clearly evident after her first auction (online), a nerve-wracking experience where she received numerous positive messages from her peers. “I know people are rooting for me and that feels good,” she says.
She has formed great relationships with the brokers, probably because she is authentic, clear and direct. And trustworthy. Something she attributes to her father’s high principles and values. Alice is quick to add that support from Ivan Smith (Non- executive director at Mohair SA) has been so helpful on the buying side, and he is always willing to give advice when needed. Her legendary father, Rob, acknowledges that Alice has entered a difficult industry, no matter what gender you are.
“She always had an insatiable curiosity for raw fibres, despite my initial reticence in her getting involved,” he says. “But she kept pestering me and it paid off. She has the personality and character for this – she is single-minded and focused, and nothing can stand in her way if she wants something.” He sounds like a proud father.
Alice doesn’t have a five-year plan – “I take what is in front of me today and make something out of it”. She loves what she does. You can see that from the way she speaks and the energy she shows when she talks about it.
..she is an innovator. Nothing is impossible, it seems. She dives right into that vessel with no safety net..
So what is in the fibre of Alice Connacher? For one, she is an innovator. Nothing is impossible, it seems. She dives right into that vessel with no safety net. She has the ability to focus with laser-like speed, which she says “is the reason why she learns quickly”. Yes, she admits that she has made mistakes, but knows that each mistake is a learning opportunity. “I go into every meeting knowing that every person present will be able to teach me something,” she says. I ask Alice if being a woman in this industry has been challenging. Quite the opposite, she says. She believes there is much room for diversity and development, and it’s because of the empowerment strategy of a few industry leaders that gender is not the defining factor in any employment opportunity. Each person is employed on merit, no matter what their status is. SIL Holdings recently won an award in the UK for employing the most female directors. “It was never about Alice being a woman,” Andrew says. “It was about employing the person based on skills and character. We believe in the right person for the job, and she has a great appetite for the business.” House of Fibre, too, has advanced in empowering women.
General manager Pierre van der Vyver explains: “We are very proud of the fact that we are one of the only brokers with a proper succession plan, and we go out of our way to canvas the best people for the job and still keep the racial and gender balance of our technical team correct.” Alice is certainly hanging with the right crowd! So, once the dye is set in that huge vessel, there is no looking back. No turning back. Alice Connacher is living proof of this.