FASHION FIRM DONATES TO CAPE TOWN WEAVERS

[Louise Lynch]

Cape Gem will donate up to £2000 from the sale of its handcrafted bags back to the South African weavers who make them this summer, the firm said today.

Cape Gem will give back 10% of its online sales from www.capegem.co.uk in June and July - an estimated £2000 - to help the fifty weavers and their families through the slower months of business during Cape Town’s winter.

The weavers work for Mielie - a not for profit business which sells its fashion and homeware goods exclusively online through Cape Gem in the UK. The extra funds will be used on projects such as building an organic vegetable garden, and providing play and learning equipment for a pre-school nursery.

Carol Lovell, who founded Cape Gem in 2006, said: “Mielie pays its weavers fair wages and any rare surplus money is ploughed straight back into helping the weavers’ community in Khayalitsha, the township where they live.

"On talking to Mielie this week, it became clear to me that sending money back to Mielie was a very transparent and empowering way for our customers to feel good about making a hot summer purchase.”

Mielie's bags are made from recycled materials using a deliberately time consuming process known as hook weaving, which means that as many jobs as possible are created and ensures a high quality finish. One of the bags featured in this June’s SHE magazine as the bag to pack for “summer chic”.

"The more bags we sell this summer, the more jobs are created and the quicker the support projects develop - we want it to be a win - win for everyone involved. We would like to sell in the region of 200 bags, obviously far more if we can – this could mean a potential minimum of £2000 being sent back to the weavers" said Lovell.