Babazeka - A socially aware online store

This business is run by two young women, Lyndsay and Gemma, who moved to South Africa from the UK. The girls noticed that many poor people living in South African townships use waste products when building their homes. Inspired by this, and using their knowledge of textiles, Gemma and Lyndsay conceptualised the Ollymolly bags.

Based in Paarl, the girls have trained women and men at the Miglat Christian Community Centre as to how to weave the products. Mis-printed pamphlets and brochures are generously donated by printing companies to the project. These are cut into strips, covered in a sticky plastic and then woven together.

Each week the girls inspect the products, and them from the makers. This way the employees can determine their own wage in the number of products they produce. A percentage of the Ollymolly proceeds are donated to the support of AIDS orphans at a care home, Bowy House.

Babazeka loves the Ollymolly products, not only because they're made from waste, but because they're functional, durable and bit of fun.