Anyone with zero experience trying to launch a project from scratch, especially one in a resource-poor country in deep recession, is going to have moments that just feel like ‘one step forwards and two steps back’ we have found. I have to give a shout out to Julia Gomachas and Amory Tjipepa, who have been more than patient as we debated ideas, created prototypes, and – often – went back to the drawing board on the way to developing viable product lines.

Eventually, they managed to create a little upcycled bag that fits into a tiny sack in your handbag or pocket when not in use – because we all forget to take our full-size ‘Sew Good Namibia‘ reusable shopping bag to the store from time to time and only remember we need one when we realise we are going to be charged for a plastic carrier bag just to hold a carton of milk.

They also have been hard at work experimenting with making net and organza drawstring bags that can be used to hold loose fruit and vegetables bought at the store weighing station – thus reducing the amount of plastic packaging you are forced to take home with you.

And I have been putting my long-dormant domestic-science class skills to use to make little applique felt birds that will be added to all the bags we sell soon at the Namibia Bird Club stall at the craft market at The Shed (19/20 October).

It’s important that we mention the support we have received today from two new donors too: the Mammadú Welcome Center arranged for us to collect a large selection of buttons, fabrics, ribbons and other sewing supplies (as well as three sewing machines that they no longer need) from their beautiful premises in Otjomuise, Katutura. We are very thankful for the support of this amazing organisation, which is doing such good work for the children in its care.

Promotional billboard banners made from PVC are not easy to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner in Namibia and ‘Sew Good Namibia’ is exploring options to turn them into an exciting new product soon. We are grateful to Grace and Michael of Gecko Signs, in Windhoek, who were generous enough to give us one of their old banners to experiment with.

(2026 update: developing a new idea, from sketching out a pattern to fashioning a prototype to initiating full-scale production through to marketing and promoting sales is a lengthy and time-consuming labour of love. Over the years, we have followed this process through to the production of a VERY great many items suggested to us by people – summer and winter scarves, baby quilts, pencil cases, phone covers, hair scrunchies, gift-wrap bags, as well as the 2 mentioned above … and only a very few have seen promising sales in the end. The beach bags we hoped to make from the billboard banners turned out to be one concept that was well outside the capabilities of our sewing machines, for example. Rather than having an inventory of less-than-popular creations sitting in the storeroom unsold and gathering dust, we now focus on just a handful of things – mostly bags and table runners – that we know will bring in income for the craftswomen, month in and month out. Ms Loide Kambida, in Walvis Bay, makes wonderful stuffed toys for sale at the coast, too, and these have proved to be a best-seller for the co-operative.)

Yesterday was the first time that ‘Sew Good Namibia‘ has had an opportunity to showcase the items made by the three women now upcycling donated fabric into household items. The International Women’s Association Namibia very kindly invited us to exhibit examples of the project’s current products at their coffee morning in Windhoek and a number of shopping bags (to replace single-use non-biodegradable plastic carrier bags) and sets of net sacks (for purchases of loose fruit and vegetables) were bought. We also took some orders, engaged in valuable networking, and received some great ideas for future product lines.

It’s interesting to see that while we have received a great deal of interest in our Facebook page, this hasn’t really translated into sales yet. It seems to be the case that when people can see the quality of the goods made by Julia, Amory and Margrieta in person, and talk to someone directly involved – that’s when the human connection is made and people really want to support the group.

With that in mind, we will now be focusing on making items with a ‘birdy’ theme since the Namibia Bird Club has generously allowed us space on their stall at the forthcoming craft market at The Shed, outside Windhoek (19th and 20th October).

The ‘Sew Good Namibia‘ project has a new member, who will be focusing on hand-sewing patchwork blocks in order to expand the range of products the group can offer. Ms Amory Tjipepa works in the security control room of an estate outside Windhoek and has plenty of time on her hands to make up these items from strips of contrasting furnishing fabric while she is on duty. Clients will be able to then have the finished squares made into cushions, quilts and pet beds.

(2026 update: since its inception, the ‘Sew Good Namibia’ project has remained – of necessity – a micro-scale operation. This is partly a function of the supply of its raw materials – donations of usable discontinued furnishing fabric samples are small in volume, only intermittent, and never guaranteed. But also, taking on a new craftsperson, training them, achieving high standards through strict quality control, and motivating them to create items when they only get paid once the product is sold has meant that, at the time of writing, we only have four women making items for the co-operative. Many, many others have been taken on, then proven unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Therefore, in terms of communication and logistics, four has turned out to be the optimum number for smooth running of the business and plans to expand have been shelved for all time. However, as the fabric has to be prepared (sticky backing paper removed, shrinkable material washed) before it can be sewn, the women sometimes sub-contract this important step to the youth in their communities.)