We hope that you all had a great time over the Easter week-end. The Mdantsane Way team has taken a little time off during the holidays but now we back in full force.
We have a long list of stories to write, so let's not waste any time.
A promise we have made to the Incede Women's group in Mdantsane is, that we would present their entirely recycled handmade glass tiles to our readers.
We have already written a story about this NGO, but the members have asked us specifically to write about their colorful glass tiles because they need help with the marketing process of this product.
Here we go. These tiles are not only stunning, beautiful, recycled, organic and sustainable but we think they are real designer tiles.
But how do we get them out of the township to prospective costumers?
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| Recycled Handmade glass tiles of the Incede Women's Group in Mdantsane |
Glass is one of the most versatile materials we have on this earth. The women of this self help initiative have started a product line a while ago, that focuses on the production of recycled glass tiles, after they have received the equipment to melt and re-process old glass bottles and other glass products. They soon mastered the technique and the women are now producing these amazing glass tiles with an arty, bohemian touch. But costumers are scarce.
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| Designer glass tiles by handmade by the Incede Women's Group in Mdantsane |
Glass is all the rage at the moment. Going to places like Plumblink, CTM, Tiles Africa etc, you can find mosaic glass tiles, Italian glass tiles and bathroom glass tiles at steep prices staring down at you from the shelves. One tile can range between 50 to 180 Rand. And they are not handmade like the Incede glass tiles.
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| Simple transparent and color glass bottles are used to make the very cool designer tiles of Incede |
You would be surprised how many recycling initiatives you can find in Mdantsane if you would take one day and visit the township.
Most of them have been created through grants and donations issued to the NGO's or self help groups in form of financing or material by the different government departments.
They start well, but they all lack the support of the public at a later stage. Funding and training are only two of the ingredients needed in the process of creating jobs and generating income. Once the beautiful products are available they have to be sold!
The difficult task of linking buyers with producers is often completely forgotten. To set up a supply chain for a product and to involve the right people who can deliver supply chain services is crucial but hardly ever happens.
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| A Sort Of Retro Feeling - But Help is needed with the marketing of the tiles |
Having met so many initiatives and still not seeing an end to, it has brought us to the point, where we have been playing with the thought for quite a while now to set up a free site called "Made In Mdantsane". This site should have the sole purpose of displaying locally made products and linking them with buyers in and outside of Mdantsane.
We bought the domain and we imagine this as a site, that is not run by us, but that will be just started by us and assisted for a while and then be taken over by you - interested local individuals of Mdantsane.
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| Patience with a recycled "shooters or liquor glass" |
The products shown in this article are only examples. The women are capable of doing costume designs for clients and all the products can be created without their label.
There are many ways of recycling and using glass in Mdantsane. Some are private and also useful, like the glass spiked wall of the Endaweni Lounge.
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| The Glass Fence of the Endaweni Lounge in Mdantsane |
Everybody understands this threat!
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| Security " Made In Mdantsane" at the Endaweni Lounge |
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