The Sewing Workshop
The sewing workshop was never part of the original plan for The Sijwa Project. Covid-19 brought about the vision to include a sewing workshop. With so much time on everyone’s hands as the Lodges came to a complete standstill when the COVID-19 Pandemic hit the world, Dusty and Tinolla thought it would be time well spent sewing uniquely designed bathrobes for the lodges and kaftans that would be ready for sale once guests return. All it required was a sewing machine and some fabric, or so they thought. Sadly none of their staff could sew and this drove them to find a way to make this new dream for a sewing workshop a reality.
Tinolla engaged in discussions with Nikita Rix, owner of The Collective Boutique in Windhoek and Swakopmund as well as Sandra Baumeister, owner of Myeisha Namibia, home to handmade leather handbags.
Dusty sprung into action and with a small team from the community (creating further employment during COVID) built the first workshop for this collaboration out of empty plastic mineral water bottles filled with plastic waste and sand.
Sandra from Myeisha donated 3 sewing machines, an over locker, sewing kits, an expert trainer to train the ladies as well as a purchase order for 200 ‘shopper’ bags designed specially for Myeisha’s handcrafted leather handbags and their Inami Safaris. Nikita from The Collective Boutique donated fabric and sewing kits. Nikita Rix secured two of South Africa’s top fashion designers; Isabelle De Villiers and Michelle Ludek to travel to the Zambezi in 2022 to design patterns for garments and kaftans for the lodges and to personally train the ladies on how to sew these designer garments. The completed garments will grace the rooms and curio shops of Nambwa and Kazile as well as the Collective Boutiques and the fashion houses of both designers back in South Africa.
“We could not be prouder of this incredible synergy, a collaboration, which have empowered women in one of the most remote locations in Namibia and in the heart of the World’s Largest Conservation Area.”
How You Can Help
We at African Monarch Lodges, through this diverse initiative, have created renowned guest experiences through intuitive moments of contact with our people. We are developing artisan skills and enriching the lives of our youth and our community whilst protecting the habitat and respecting nature’s course. We trust that you will feel our passion and enthusiasm for the success of The Sijwa Project and would help us achieve the full potential for this remote part of Namibia. We would appreciate any form of support.
Should you have space in your luggage when travelling to our lodges, may we ask that you pack the below for the sewing workshop:
- sewing items such as needles, scissors, thread
- old fabric
- old sheets
- old towels
Bank Details
The Sijwa Project,
Standard Bank, Namibia,
Acc: 60003912069,
Branch: Windhoek,
Branch Code: 082372,
Swift Code: SBNMNANX
Please use the selected facet of the Sijwa Project you would like to donate to as a reference:
Project 1: Transport Vehicle for the Children of the Junior Ranger & Junior Sewing School
Project 2: Permaculture Centre
Project 3: Elephant Friendly Beehive Project
Project 4: Tree Nursery for the offset of carbon emissions
Project 5: Aluminium Recycling Workshop
Project 6: Junior Ranger School
Project 7: Pre-school & Library
