With Christmas around the corner, handmade, ethical, eco friendly, gifts for kids might just find a space on Santa’s list this year with these adorable creations. Canadian-based Bundu Designs (meaning in the "middle of nowhere") is transforming the awareness and consumption of contemporary African design products with a core philosophy of ethical, sustainable and fairly traded. Like Bundu’s name implies, many of the artisan groups they work with are literally found in the "middle of nowhere," Petrusville, Ndiwasa, Mutare, Imizamuwethu, Ambatofotsy. The focus, however, is never on pity purchases; all products must be design savvy and appeal to a contemporary market. None of these gifts come freighted with the baggage of commercialism, are made from safe and nontoxic materials, and weren’t made in sweatshops.
Hand-stitched by Mwayiwathu (meaning "blessings"), a support group for HIV-positive women in Malawi, sew little animal using African wax prints combined with a soft jersey knit. The 15 members of this small group are primarily AIDS widows, living with the virus themselves. They chose the name for their group because they really see the work they do as a blessing and a solution to some of the challenges they face. The range is made in an elephant, monkey, lion and bunny.
Contact Information:
Bundu Designs Website
Bundu Designs Blog
Bundu Designs on Facebook
1-888-900-6164
Ethical African-Inspired Gifts
Bundu Works with a Support Group for HIV-Positive Women in Malawi
Trend Themes
1. Handmade Ethical Gifts - Opportunity for businesses to create and market handmade gifts that are both ethical and sustainable.
2. African-inspired Design - Businesses can tap into the growing demand for contemporary African design products that are unique and appeal to a contemporary market.
3. Support Group Empowerment - Potential to support and collaborate with support groups, like Mwayiwathu, to empower marginalized communities and offer opportunities for income generation.
Industry Implications
1. Eco-friendly Products - Disruptive innovation potential in the eco-friendly product industry to create and market safe and nontoxic gifts made from sustainable materials.
2. Social Enterprise - Opportunity for businesses in the social enterprise sector to collaborate with artisans and support groups in developing countries to create a sustainable market for their products.
3. Fashion and Apparel - Disruptive innovation potential in the fashion and apparel industry to incorporate African wax prints and create unique and culturally inspired designs.