Local Sustainable Design: The Joinery

WORDS Mary Garner IMAGES The Joinery

Owned by sisters Natalie and Kim Ellis, The Joinery is a Cape Town-based brand committed to the production of ethical luxury fashion and lifestyle items.

The brand’s collection of sustainable products consists of a wide range of designs, from laptop bags, luggage tags and totes to iPad sleeves, notebooks and passport holders.

The grey material used throughout this range has the appearance of felt, but is made from recycled plastic bottles. “Saving plastic from landfills allows us to create beautiful, upcycled products and apparel,” says the duo on their website.

The leather accents make use of sustainably sourced or vegetable leather. Eco fabrics such Tencel, Linen, Rayon and Hemp are used in the production of the products wherever possible, as well as fibres grown without toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilisers.

All of the pieces are handmade to order by up-skilled local artisans in Cape Town.

The Joinery received the 2017 PETCO Award for Best Product using recycled PET, as well as an Eco-Logic Award for Eco Innovation.

For more information, visit thejoinery.co.za.