Recycling Innovations Showcased at Expo
Upcycled Craft Products Gain Popularity in South Africa
In South Africa, a growing trend towards sustainability and cultural aesthetics is evident in the world of craft products. Many makers and brands are focusing on creating unique, eco-friendly items from recycled or second-hand materials, with a particular emphasis on upcycled bags and home décor.
One such brand is Mixed Ideaz, run by Godfrey Dambuleni, who specializes in wire art combined with recycled metal. These craft products make suitable branded corporate gifts and are available for online purchase.
Another notable brand is E'Yako Green, run by Carey Moran, who creates bags, folders, pencil cases, book covers, and more from upcycled billboards and telephone wire baskets.
Upcycled tote bags and home décor items, made from second-hand markets and repurposed materials found in South African urban centers, are also popular. Brands like VuthA Africa Bags, with their unique, handmade bags that embody African heritage and culture, are a testament to this trend.
TORRAIN Recycled Bags, although more broadly based, also contribute to this movement. They make upcycled, sustainable bags from feed and cement bags, with materials sourced from South Africa. These bags are durable, lightweight, and water-resistant, reflecting a focus on adventure and sustainability. They donate $1 for every item sold to environmental and social causes.
Authentic pieces of craft art can be found at WTM Africa, where buying products made by small producers aids in job creation, building capacity, and advancing sustainability. T-Bag Designs, a workshop in Hout Bay that employs local township residents to create unique artworks from dried, emptied, and painted teabags, is one such example. Each T-Bag Designs artwork is unique and created by the T-Bag Designs artists.
If you're in South Africa, you can also find these craft products in physical locations. With a large domestic self-drive tourism market, there are plenty of opportunities to discover these unique, upcycled creations.
Joanna Orr of Head On Design is another maker worth mentioning. She crafts wildlife sculptures from sustainable and recycled materials like bamboo, birch ply, and recycled board. These sculptures were on sale at WTM Africa's Sustainability Village last week.
Upcycled craft products are not just for tourists to take home, but they are a significant part of South Africa's cultural landscape. From functional art for homeware and decor, such as stationery, coasters, and wall decor, to unique wildlife sculptures, there's a wide variety to choose from. Embrace sustainability and support local artisans by exploring these upcycled craft products in South Africa.
- The trend towards sustainability in South Africa extends to craft products, with brands like Mixed Ideaz and E'Yako Green focusing on eco-friendly items, such as wire art and upcycled billboards, for sale online.
- TORRAIN Recycled Bags, while not exclusive to South Africa, also contributes to the movement by making durable, lightweight, and water-resistant bags from feed and cement bags, with materials sourced domestically.
- WTM Africa, a hub for small producers, aids in job creation and advancement of sustainability, with workshops like T-Bag Designs creating unique artworks from dried teabags, available for purchase.
- For those in South Africa, physical locations offer opportunities to discover these upcycled creations, with a large domestic self-drive tourism market providing chances to explore unique, sustainable craft products.
- Joanna Orr's wildlife sculptures, crafted from sustainable and recycled materials like bamboo, birch ply, and recycled board, are another example of South Africa's embracement of sustainability in craft products, with these sculptures on sale at WTM Africa's Sustainability Village.
