Bread bags, skilled hands, and a whole lot of heart: These are the magic ingredients empowering 21 incredible women in Hout Bay to turn everyday trash into stunning treasures, one crochet hook at a time!
Hout Bay, South Africa (04 June 2025) – Plastic pollution is a mounting crisis, but in the heart of Hout Bay exist 21 women, 15 of whom are crocheters and six cutters, quietly and creatively repurposing discarded plastic bags into beautiful, multifunctional items.
Since launching just over four years ago, the team has repurposed the equivalent of 144,000 empty bread bags! That adds up to about 1,009 kilograms of plastic saved from ending up in landfills or the environment. For perspective, that is more than eight baby elephants in weight!
With World Environment Day observed on 5 June, we celebrate this dynamic group’s inspiring mission of turning waste into worth.
Mejury Kazingizi was introduced to the Re.Bag.Re.Use team as a cutter by her cousin, Sakile Ndlovu. She began by meticulously cutting plastic strips for the crocheters. Learning and growing are key to the initiative, and all cutters are encouraged to learn how to crochet.
At first, Mejury was hesitant. She steered away from the crochet needle, unsure of her ability. But slowly, she began to experiment, tried new projects, and built up her confidence.
Today, her hands skillfully crochet recycled bread bags into beautiful, purposeful creations. In fact, when you watch the Re.Bag.Re.Use “How to Crochet” tutorials on social media, it is Mejury’s hands you see. She is now teaching and inspiring the next generation of upcyclers.
Her transformation is best told in her own words, shared with the team:
“Those hands couldn’t hold a crochet needle. They only knew how to cut plastic. Thank you team. Today, those same hands are making beautiful crocheting.”
@blueribbonza Our latest @Re.Bag.Re.Use video shines a light on the talented women turning old bread bags into wearable art — with a behind-the-scenes look at how these ridiculously cool bracelets come to life. #BlueRibbonZA #BlueRibbon #ReBagReUse #Upcycling #Recycyle #Sustainability #PacketsOfHope #Bracelets #Crochet
Turning Waste into Wonder
The Hout Bay-based initiative collects empty bread bags and shopping bags that would otherwise clog landfills or pollute the environment.
Every bread bag saved through upcycling does more than just avoid landfill. It supports someone’s growth. It offers dignity, income, and a sense of purpose.
True sustainability is not only about recycling. It is about reducing, reusing and repurposing to create lasting environmental and social impact. Re.Bag.Re.Use embodies this ethos, proving that a cleaner planet and stronger communities can be crocheted together, one bag at a time.
Crafting Calm and Confidence
Beyond the environmental impact, Mejury and her fellow Re.Bag.Re.Use artisans have discovered a deeply personal benefit to their craft. For many of them, crochet is therapy. The rhythmic looping of “plarn”, has become a calming part of their daily lives.
Studies support what these women experience firsthand. Repetitive needlework can boost serotonin, the feel-good hormone, and help reduce cortisol, the hormone linked to stress.
Many of the Re.Bag.Re.Use team say that focusing on creating a bag or a hat from plastic waste helps them tune out life’s anxieties. The concentration and care required in crocheting provide a meditative escape.
Just as importantly, learning this craft has fuelled the women’s self-confidence. Every completed item, whether a vibrant beach bag or a durable doormat, is a visible reminder of creativity, growth and pride.
If you would like to learn how to crochet, visit www.rebagreuse.com to get your “plarn” starter kit.
You can follow the tutorials on Re.Bag.Re.Use’s social media pages: Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 