Major retailer Woolworths has offered customers to swap a discount voucher for customers’ worn denim, which will then be donated to grassroots seamstresses for upcycling into other products, Cape {town} Etc reports.
In this pilot project, 20 Woolworths stores across the nation are set to participate in the initiative.
Speaking on this initiative, the Head of TCB’s Remake Programme, Heidi Smith said, “Our seamstresses use donations of clothing, fabric, haberdashery, and cut samples from supply chain partners like Woolworths to create various garments from handbags to dresses and skirts to toys and cushions that they then sell to support their families.”
Adding, “We currently work with 72 seamstresses and we will recruit 100 seamstresses in 2025. These seamstresses are from under-served communities and many don’t have access to essential sewing machines and affordable fabric. Remake gives them the support they need to become financially and socially independent. On average, our Remake participants each have 4,5 dependents. Many of them are the primary breadwinners and support their direct and extended families.”
The project, which will continue until Christmas day, will have the 20 Woolworths stores hand over a 20%-off voucher for a new pair of REdenim jeans, in exchange for the customer’s denim donation.
This will then be donated to the Epping-based NGO Taking Care of Business (TCB), previously known as The Clothing Bank, according to News24.
TCB’s Remake programme supplies seamstresses with the necessary skills and resources to ‘unlock their full potential’.
The pre-worn denim will be reworked into products, such as bags and toys, which they will sell.
Sewing skills are the only selection criterion for the Remake programme.
Other skills that include advanced sewing skills, people skills and business acumen, are taught over two years.
Participating stores in the Western Cape, where customers can donate their denim garments, include:
- Canal Walk
- Cavendish Square
- Garden Route Mall in George
- Somerset West Mall
- Tygervalley Shopping Centre
Compiled by: Jan-Hendrik De Villiers
First published by Cape ETC
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