Ollymolly

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Ollymolly was born out of our passion for weaving using recycling materials, which is very prominent within the townships where a large part of the under privileged populations housing is made out of waste they recycle. Experimenting with the idea and concept in January 2005 led to facilitating the handcrafting of unique recycled woven products by women from local communities in the Western Cape”.

To begin each bag we first have to prepare the paper that is generously donated misprints from printing firms or bought by the kilo from a paper recycling plant. The paper is then cut into strips. The strips are then rolled individually in a sticky plastic and not laminated, as many people believe making each one water resistant & more durable. After which the strips are then hand woven into the bag. When the bag is tensioned and shaped the tops are finished off and the handles and clasps are attached.

Background

After working as Woven Textile Designers in both fashion and furnishings in the UK, Lyndsay McFarlane from Scotland and Gemma Coll from Northern Ireland immigrated to South Africa to share their knowledge and skills with the textile Industry there. Recent years proved difficult for the textile industry in South Africa due to the increasing demand for cheap imports from China and as a result the company where Gemma & Lyndsay worked closed its doors after over 30 years of manufacturing. Undefeated they put their knowledge and skills to the test by setting up their own company designing and manufacturing woven bags out of recyclable materials.

In April 2005Gemma & Lyndsaystarted training at a Community Centre in Mitchell’s Plain outside Cape Town, which was funded by a Dutch organization and run by a Christian group. We worked with four girls from there as well as four others through Ikamva Labantu Community Creations in Woodstock and a group of women at the Community Women in Action organisation in Eerste Rivier which we started working with in November 2005. The project there provided them with skills and employment they would otherwise not have. The Centre opens its doors to people suffering with HIV and other disabilities that come from extremely deprived areas.

Sadly they had to stop working with the groups in Mitchell’s Plain & Ikamva Labantu due to logistics but we replaced these with a Community Group in Paarl where we are situated so it makes it much easier to manage.

The group in Paarl is situated at the Miqlat Center, in Paarl East, which is a Christian community upliftment organization. The name Miqlat is drawn from the Old Testament Hebrew word for ‘place of refuge & hope’. The Miqlat team concentrates on delivering numerous community development programs. The focus is on the children & families who are struggling with poverty, HIV/AIDS, poor nutrition & unemployment. Miqlat is supported by donations from local and international churches, businesses and individual benefactors. It is staffed by local & international full-time & part-time missionaries, who are assisted by community volunteers. Ollymolly is the first project situated at the center that provides training & employment for women in the surrounding area. “Ollymolly is committed to playing a proactive role in Africa’s Revival through economic empowerment and skills training”.

Training started in earnest at the Miqlat Centre in January 2006, Ollymolly provides them with all the materials they need to make the bagswho thenbuy back from them once a week. A percentage of the profit from the product salesgoes towards the support of AIDS orphans at the Bowy House, a care home for HIV/AIDS infected and affected infants located in central Paarl. Through Bowy House, trained professionals and loving volunteers serve the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of HIV infected children coming from below the poverty line. Bowy House is a model for similar Aids Care Centers targeted for opening across Africa.

When buying an Ollymolly product you will not only own a very useable, recyclable unique piece of handcrafted art but you are also contributing towards the much-needed support of children who are the tragic victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

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