Regine le Roux dusted off her crochet needles during the lockdown and paved the way for an idea to reduce bread bags in landfills, empower women and support charities.
Hout Bay, South Africa (02 September 2021) – Regine le Roux never dreamed that an old hobby would be the catalyst for change in her life and many women around her. Using bread bags, she launched the Re.Bag.Re.Use initiative to empower others.
Six women from the Harbour and Imizamo Yetho in Hout Bay have started transforming bread bags into shopping bags that are being sold and the money used to empower themselves, others and boosting local charities.
They use empty bread plastic bags, two-litre milk bottle labels and courier bags. Regine shared how she stumbled on the idea of using plastics to crochet.
“During this time [lockdown] I realised just how much plastic was being generated and thrown away every day, so I decided to find a way to repurpose it. Crocheting with plastic worked!”
It takes approximately 30 empty bread bags and eight hours to complete one bag. Two ladies cut the plastic bags into strips for the ladies to crochet with.
When a ReBag.ReUse bag is purchased; not only is it keeping plastic from going to the landfill, but it is also investing into the empowerment of the local community and charities. The sales from the bags are used to pay a stipend to the crocheters, the cutters, and a percentage also goes to a local charity. Last month they donated to DARG.
“Recently a lady bought nine bags that were taken to the United States as gifts! We’re absolutely thrilled that these bags are now ‘international’!
We are incredibly grateful for the support from everyone in Hout Bay. The local haberdashery Fiddlesticks have kindly offered to be a drop off point for the plastic bags.”
You can support this fantastic initiative via the Facebook page here.
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