Birds of a feather: How TCB seamstresses are stitching waste into wonderful

Waste has turned wonderful in Cape Town, where fabric offcuts are being used to produce  eye-catching fabric birds. 

The innovative new product line is the work of award-winning charitable group Taking Care of Business, a Cape Chamber member, which repurposes waste products to empower underprivileged South Africans with entrepreneurial skills.  

Fabric ducks and penguins are an offshoot of TCB's Remake programme which works with unemployed seamstresses.  

"The latest success story is that we are now selling a selection of these products at Groot Constantia and also at SANCOBB – it is a way for the public to support local seamstresses, reduce waste and shop with purpose," says TCB co-founder Tracey Chambers in a social media post. "We have created ducks and penguins for these partners especially." 

"Turning high quality fabric off cuts from a leading furniture manufacturer into a business for our makers in our Taking Care of Business Remake programme. Another circular solution for waste," Chambers said