packaging
There's even a story behind our packaging...
All of made's packaging is sourced in Africa
Recycled carrier bags – Kawangware Street Youth Project
Kawangware, is in the western outskirts of Nairobi, is one of that town's largest high density slums with an estimated 300,000 population of which 65% are children and youth. Kawangware has grown haphazardly without any evidence of planned development and now has a chaotic infrastructure with overpopulated schools, no social amenities and high unemployment with most families living in extreme poverty.
As in other urban slum area family breakdown is rife and exacerbated by the impact of HIV/AIDS and malaria. Community morale and self-esteem is low. Children and young people opt for the streets in search of basic human needs and the hope of a better life. Young boys are at great risk of violence or being drawn into crime. Young girls may be exploited as servants or forced into prostitution.
The project runs from three small rooms in the heart of Kawangware which act as a workshop and a coordination centre for project activities.
At the workshop there 40 teenagers, mainly boys, many of whom are former street children, to produce handcrafted paper bags, gift-wraps and cards from recycled paper. The project also employs 15 mothers from the community, who are mostly widows and the only wage earners in the family, to make and supply hand-made banana fibre handles for the recycled paper bags.
All of made's packaging is sourced in Africa
Recycled carrier bags – Kawangware Street Youth Project
Kawangware, is in the western outskirts of Nairobi, is one of that town's largest high density slums with an estimated 300,000 population of which 65% are children and youth. Kawangware has grown haphazardly without any evidence of planned development and now has a chaotic infrastructure with overpopulated schools, no social amenities and high unemployment with most families living in extreme poverty.
As in other urban slum area family breakdown is rife and exacerbated by the impact of HIV/AIDS and malaria. Community morale and self-esteem is low. Children and young people opt for the streets in search of basic human needs and the hope of a better life. Young boys are at great risk of violence or being drawn into crime. Young girls may be exploited as servants or forced into prostitution.
The project runs from three small rooms in the heart of Kawangware which act as a workshop and a coordination centre for project activities.
At the workshop there 40 teenagers, mainly boys, many of whom are former street children, to produce handcrafted paper bags, gift-wraps and cards from recycled paper. The project also employs 15 mothers from the community, who are mostly widows and the only wage earners in the family, to make and supply hand-made banana fibre handles for the recycled paper bags.
made is helping to make a difference by commissioning the Kawangware Street Youth Project to make all of made's carrier bags.
Every customer who buys a made product will receive a recycled carrier bag from the Kawangware Street Youth Project and will help to make a difference.
Sisal Wallets – Fokoni Women's Project, near Lake Victoria
The Sokoni Women's Project creates an opportunity for women who currently earn less than a dollar a day. Unfortunately, there is not enough work to go around on the farms so this creates massive unemployment in the region.
made is trying to make a difference by engaging with this indigenous community by commissioning the women to make their sisal wallets. There are over 50 women making the sisal wallets and they are now earning more than a dollar a day.
Every customer who buys a made product will receive a sisal wallet.
The Sokoni Women's Project creates an opportunity for women who currently earn less than a dollar a day. Unfortunately, there is not enough work to go around on the farms so this creates massive unemployment in the region.
made is trying to make a difference by engaging with this indigenous community by commissioning the women to make their sisal wallets. There are over 50 women making the sisal wallets and they are now earning more than a dollar a day.
Every customer who buys a made product will receive a sisal wallet.
Leather Wallets - Francis
Trained in leatherwork and upholstery, Francis established a small workshop in Nairobi in 2003 but had no way of marketing his work to a wider audience. Now, with the guidance of made and its style-savvy designers, Francis is able to support his family and continue crafting uniquely beautiful accessories.
Francis is now working on a consistent basis with made making leather bags, belts and wallets.
The leather wallets are free to customers who spend over £40 online or when any made boutique product is bought.
Trained in leatherwork and upholstery, Francis established a small workshop in Nairobi in 2003 but had no way of marketing his work to a wider audience. Now, with the guidance of made and its style-savvy designers, Francis is able to support his family and continue crafting uniquely beautiful accessories.
Francis is now working on a consistent basis with made making leather bags, belts and wallets.
The leather wallets are free to customers who spend over £40 online or when any made boutique product is bought.