Indlovu

f the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre, providing unemployed women and men with a skill and an income and supporting sports and recreation activities for children and youth. Established in 2018, the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre sewing project, INDLOVU, aspires to enable previously unemployed women and men to learn a new skill and find fellowship with one another in a safe community space. Initially making bags from recycled and upcycled material, they are now branching out into making new and exciting products and are seeing their dreams of generating an income for themselves and for their families, become a reality. The project has developed over the years and the range of products has grown as the community has inspired us, from bags to masks and, with a beautiful dose of inspiration in 2020, ‘A Touch of Shweshwe’ was ignited. Shweshwe has a wide and global heritage, but has come to find a significant and rooted home in South Africa. This vibrant, lively fabric encapsulates the bold, colourful and intricate South African culture in many ways and is associated with many traditional ceremonies and special occasions. It has come to symbolise a special kind of ‘belonging’ in this beloved country. We use original, genuine Shweshwe that is exclusively made in Qonce. We love using a touch of Shweshwe to make everyday items a celebration! This vibrant design direction has brought once old clothes back to life and has added a wonderfully African feel to our unique products. Customised shoes, specialising in Vans, have become an exciting addition to our product range too. The talented team seamlessly incorporate shweshwe into any style of shoe, jacket or jeans, making your wardrobe truly unique and beautiful. With this wonderful approach to reuse and revamp, the project not only empowers our community but also empowers our customers to be conscious consumers; purchasing responsibly made items and upcycling the things they love best in their closets! The INDLOVU sewing space is meant to be one that empowers and brings pride to our community and our country. Every product is made with care and precision and every employee is encouraged to grow creatively and try new things. This is a space where ideas are developed, people are encouraged, and community is nurtured. Our aim is to grow this venture to be a completely sustainable project that can generate an income for talented locals and support community development programs run by SCORE. (Check out this amazing organisation’s work here!)