Grassroots fashion initiatives are our favourite style! Here’s how two women were able to turn their lives around and get to greener financial pastures thanks to a little luck and a lot of empowerment:
South Africa (26 July, 2023)—The fashion industry isn’t known for grassroots efforts nearly as much as it’s known for glamour. But, sisterhoods in South Africa are changing this narrative one stitch at a time; proving grassroots fashion initiatives to be a space as up-and-coming as they are impactful.
Initiatives like Colours of a Kind and Taking Care of Business (TCB) are just some women-centric non-profits building women up to greener financial pastures through grassroots fashion initiatives. For an industry plagued with superficial pursuits and anti-climate positive antics, these sustainable upskilling programmes are tackling two of the world’s greatest problems (poverty and climate change) cut by cut.
Small Actions, Big Change! Two Stories of Hope
It’s one thing to read figures about how initiatives like this help empower communities and another to put names to the numbers. Two women who recently shared their stories from struggle to being back in business are Mangiwe Fodo and Sikelelwa Sandor:
Mangiwe Fodo
Mangiwe Fodo from Kraaifontein struggled to find a job for three years after the factory she worked at closed down. She is her family’s provider and had been since 2007 when her husband passed away.
Despite finding a new opportunity at long last (something she really needed especially as her age had Mangiwe worried about employment opportunities) the pandemic seemingly shattered her hopes.
However, by a stroke of luck, she encountered Taking Care of Businesses’ Remake Programme which helps seamstresses grow their designs with a business-savvy fit.
At first, Mangiwe thought it was just an opportunity to improve her sewing skills. Soon, she realised that it was a sisterhood of people where sewing skill-sharing was only one thread of many skills she’d learn!
Here, she learnt how to run her own business, make profits, manage her money and access help with everything from designs to cash-up.
She shares that this is where she regained her power and realized how much talent she already had inside her.
Now, she’s committed to her own business in fashion.
“They have made a home for us here… a lot of single parents like me are struggling but TCB has helped us to put something on the table for our families.”
Mangiwe’s advice to people starting their own businesses:
“Give yourself time to think and plan, and have confidence in yourself.”
Sikelelwa Sandor
In another part of South Africa, Sikelekwa Sandor struggled to support herself and her family after she lost her father who had been financially supporting her. Despite having completed college, things were tough, especially during the grief stages of losing her dad.
However, fate handed her an opportunity to turn things around after she met a woman who pointed her in TCB’s direction. She applied to join in 2021 in a moment she calls “the beginning of turning my life around.”
The East London branch trained her and made sure she had the necessary support to flourish, a lot of which focused on bringing out the budding businesswoman’s confidence.
Two years down the line and Sikelelwa positively reports: “today I am proud to say that I am doing well and taking care of my family.”
Even more good news, she’s continuing her studies at Rhodes University where she’s pursuing a Bachelor of Education in Service Training.
She shares that she owes all of it to the TCB sisterhood!
Of the journey, she shares that despite the hard work, it’s worth it.
“The journey will mould you into a stronger, more resilient person and the rewards are worth the effort.”—Sikelelwa Sandor.
You can find out more about TCB here!
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