On Kenyan coastal beaches, flip-flop sandals are discarded in the sand, rocks or water. The washed-up plastics threatening the beaches are now being upcycled and transformed into unique sculptures and colourful toys.
Features
7 Local brands for an eco-friendly and budget-friendly period
Every day 300 million people around the world menstruate for approximately five days in every 28 day cycle. Many South Africans do not have access to or cannot afford to buy sanitary products....
These 5 local decor brands take eco seriously
New interior design trends are being driven by the increasing demand for closed material loops and a circular economy. When asked to comment on what constitutes sustainable furniture and what one...
Refashion Plastic design exchange seeds ideas for fixing the future
Faced with the complex environmental and social problems created by plastic, a group of creative thinkers, conservationists and artists gathered for a workshop in a Langa studio on a cold winter’s...
Textile artist Jana Visser weaves spaces of reflection for Loewe Foundation Craft Prize
The slow, considered process of craft is what Jana Visser loves most about creating textile art. The 2023 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize finalist says that the intricate, time- and labour-intensive...
What local retailers are doing for sustainable fashion
Four years since the South African textile sector master plan was finalised alarms are ringing that this guiding document needs sustainability goals to be clearer, relevant and climate-smart to be...
7 South Africans each write a love letter to clothing for #FashionRevolution
An important part of slow fashion is cultivating deeper connections with our clothing. The fast fashion system has convinced us that fashion is purely transactional and clothing is inherently...
Kokrobitey Institute to host textile art and design residency in Ghana
It’s no secret that the overproduction of fast fashion has created a global waste problem. Testament to this is West Africa's largest informal secondhand clothing market, called Kantamanto, in...
How to Earth Day 2023
This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement, commemorated annually as Earth Day. Since 1970, billions of individuals from more than 190 countries worldwide...
South Africa’s oldest weaving guild to host ancient skills textile workshops
Amidst our culture of consumerism and fast fashion, the legacy and understanding of how things are made have become obscured by complex, modern and globalised supply chains. This means that we tend...
Meet the 12 creatives selected for Design Futures Lab 2023
This year a musician, artisanal fashion designer, culture activist and artist join cutting-edge photographers, filmmakers and creative technologists for the second edition of Design Futures Lab....
How a local Facebook group became a global network for clothing upcycling
Healing the fashion system, and our relationships with clothing, is often rooted in a strong sense of community. For many, Facebook groups are an accessible way to seek out like-minded slow living...
‘It can be done. It must be done’: IPCC delivers definitive report on climate change
The world is in deep trouble on climate change, but if we really put our shoulder to the wheel we can turn things around. Loosely, that’s the essence of today’s report by the Intergovernmental Panel...
Unveiling Africa’s six greatest places of 2023
From lush rainforests and wildlife sanctuaries to majestic pyramids and thriving fashion capitals, Africa's diversity of natural and manmade wonders continues to appeal to travellers worldwide. But...
‘Forever chemicals’ are everywhere – here’s what you need to know
Whether you’ve heard of them before or not, “forever chemicals” are all around us. Stain-resistant carpets, non-stick pans, mascara and even some food packaging contain these chemicals. But while...