WORDS Gina Dionisio
Re.Bag.Re.Use, a Hout Bay-based community project, has created scatter cushions using repurposed materials from old VHS and cassette tapes.
Textured pattern, ’80s nostalgia and sustainability all come together in latest scatter cushion range from Re.Bag.Re.Use.
Re.Bag.Re.Use, a community-based project from Hout Bay which gives new life to old plastic bags, initially began as a hobby during the Covid-19 lockdown. “Our flagship product is a multifunctional bag, crocheted and repurposed from empty bread bags, but as the project is growing and building momentum, additional products are being added to the product range,” shares founder, Regine le Roux.
The project’s newest product? Scatter cushions made from VHS and cassette tapes. VHS and cassette tapes are in most cases not recyclable or not accepted by recyclers, so the next best sustainable option is to give them a ‘second life’. The tape of the VHS and cassette tapes gives the products a marvellous metallic shimmer, which creates a beautiful textured pattern.
Rita Ncube, who is one of the Re.Bag.Re.Use artists who crochets with the video tapes shares, “It is incredible to think that something that seems as useless and defunct as an old VHS tape, can be made into something so beautiful!” The tape gives gives the scatter cushions a marvellous metallic shimmer, which creates a beautiful textured pattern.
The hard black outer covering of the videos are also repurposed into wonderfully retro foot stools!
Re.Bag.Re.Use provides community members a small way to supplement their incomes with a bit of extra pocket money. It’s not a full time job and the ladies who are part of the initiative are not employed by Re.Bag.Re.Use. They get paid a stipend for crocheting Re.Bag.Re.Use products, which helps them to buy essentials for their households. A percentage of all the sales from Re.Bag.Re.Use products also goes to local charities.
In October 2022, Re.Bag.Re.Use received international recognition and was awarded the co-winner spot at the ECCO International Communications Network 2022 Awards.
“This project from South Africa convinced the jury especially because of its social contribution for women in the current economic crisis and for the benefits towards our environment. We see this initiative having the potential to encourage more local entrepreneurs and businesses to start similar projects that have social and environmental benefits”, says Christian Kollmann, Chairperson of ECCO International Communications Network
“Moreover, according to the jury, the project was accompanied by professional media and communication work that brought convincing results in growing the initiative,” added Christian.
Regine shares, “what an honour to be recognised internationally. It’s a nod and the boost to let the team know that we’re onto something incredible here. I would never in a million years have thought that an empty bread bag would bring so much joy and have such a positive impact on so many people.”
For more information on the Re.Bag.Re.Use products, visit rebagreuse.com.
Looking for more design inspiration? Sign up to our weekly newsletter, here.
