“BunduBags is not only aimed at skills development and income generation, but takes a holistic approach to the lives of the people who attend. It provides a safe environment where they become part of a larger community, and are thus able to fight the desperation and degradation of poverty and regain their self-respect as income earners.”

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Bundubags is a bag company with a difference. They make beautiful, innovative, totally recycled bags, with a core belief that lives can be changed by design. Bundubags began with a creative idea, a love of contemporary African design and a heart for African women. Bundubags currently consists of 40+ women and their mission is to empower this small group of African women to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

MO: How did you come up with the idea for Bundubags? Where did your love for love of contemporary African design and a heart for African women stem from?

Colleen: I am originally from South Africa and I remember when I left to live in Canada, something that I missed the most, was African women. They have a strength and a vibrancy about them, that I have never found anywhere else in the world. They really are the backbone of African society. They are also incredibly marginalized and often do not have the opportunities to showcase themselves and their abilities. Bundubags, for me was a way of being able to help in some small way. African Design, at the moment is so fresh and exciting, that being able to combine these two loves, was a natural fit for me personally.

MO: Can you elaborate on the process of creating a product that is not only environmentally sustainable, but enables 40 previously unemployed women to earn a sustainable income?

Colleen: It’s not enough anymore, in my opinion, to just produce another consumer product. There has to be more to it. We always wanted to achieve a triple bottom line with our product.: sustainable, socially conscious and profitable. But it also needed to be a product that was contemporary, well designed and innovative above all else. We wanted to utilize existing skills that the ladies already had, which in this case were traditional African weaving techniques. The fact that they could weave cargo strapping was amazing and worked perfectly to create a range of handbags that could then also be lined with traditional African printed fabric. The result was something very unique. Each element of the bags are completely handmade and so there is a lot of labour involved, which is how the business is able to sustain 40 women.

MO: What were some of the initial challenges you faced when developing this unique business model?

Colleen: Working in Africa has many challenges, most of which are logistics. I have a great team on the ground that runs the project on a daily basis and the women are so committed, that it makes everything worth while. The challenges, like any retail product is finding good markets for the product. So far, the reception for the product has been great and so we hope that continues to get easier.

MO: Can you expand on how you care for each and every one of the ladies that makes up your business?

Colleen: We provide sustainable employment which is probably the most important thing we do. All of the women come from Alexandra – known informally as Alex – home to around 500 000 people, found 15 minutes from the heart of Johannesburg’s CBD. In addition to a general lack of infrastructure, Alex has been tragically affected by a lack of educational opportunities, resulting in a vicious cycle of unemployment and poverty. Even in the post-Apartheid years, attempts at urban renewal have been slow, education facilities continue to be sub-standard, communal and political conflicts have continued and most residents still live in appalling conditions. This has been compounded by HIV and AIDS, crime and the breakdown of family values. We now have approximately 40 women making BunduBags and this allows each women to earn a sustainable income for themselves and their families. BunduBags is not only aimed at skills development and income generation, but takes a holistic approach to the lives of the people who attend. It provides a safe environment where they become part of a larger community, and are thus able to fight the desperation and degradation of poverty and regain their self-respect as income earners.

MO: What sales and marketing strategies have you used to get the word out there about Bundu bags?

Colleen: It has been largely PR driven, but we will be kicking off 2013 will something a little more traditional in terms of advertising. We have been fortunate that people have connected to the product and the project and have been willing to help spread the word.

MO: What’s the biggest barrier to your success right now?

Colleen: Logistics – shipping from South Africa to North America is an on going challenge because of costs and timing. The other challenge is promoting conscious consumerism – it’s changing slowly, but it’ still about pricing and who can supply the cheapest product the fastest.

MO: What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for you personally or professionally?

Colleen: Each day is exciting as I get to watch this business grow as more and more people are discovering and hearing about our products. We are also currently working on a new kids range – we think kids can be conscious consumers too. Personally I get to go back to South Africa and stay connected to my birthplace and a country I love deeply.