Dear Volunteers, Customers, Partners, Trustees and all Supporters! Social entrepreneurship is more than just a great idea, it’s something I genuinely believe has the power to change lives. When a strong business model is paired with a meaningful product that connects both customers and the generosity of donors and volunteers, it creates something truly special: a venture that is not only sustainable, but deeply impactful. What inspires me most is how this approach goes beyond profit, uplifting underprivileged communities by…

I am going to start our latest blog by apologizing for my tone of voice… I don’t mean to offend you, but I mean to ask you to listen. Imagine, you can change our World by making the right choices. You can single handedly help dealing with the latest environmental challenges by buying or not buying certain goods and overcome your addiction of consumerism. You are not your wardrobe, neither how many pairs of shoes you own. Your handbag does…

When I think of Chic Mamas I feel -  pure joy.   Chic Mamas is a  warm, friendly, affirming environment filled with welcoming smiles, helpfulness and affirmations.  Volunteering here is never a chore, never a matter of  -   oh no it’s my shift today - in fact,  most of the volunteers (of which I am fortunate to be one) come early and eagerly do their bit. Helping our customers to feel and look their best selves, and finding great items of…

The Japanese word “Ikigai” has entered the global lexicon and closely describes my Chic Mamas experience. Over more than a decade, I have evolved from a regular Customer, to a Volunteer and most recently a Trustee. I can truly say that Chic Mamas found me and not the other way around. My Happy Place. Every time I think about Chic Mamas (which is often), it brings a smile to my face and lifts my spirit. It is where my passion…

While the circular economy has been studied since the 70s, the first circular economy action plan was adopted by the European Commission in 2015. Defined by the Ellen Macarthur Foundation as a "systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution", the circular economy is ultimately about reducing waste and creating resource efficiency.   Historically, issues around sustainability have been the concern of large corporates, but there’s been a shift, specifically since the Covid-19 pandemic,…

  We have just come out the other end after The Big Sale for Vintage with Love at the end of September 2022. What an incredible experience it was again & just so good to be back in a public space with all our supporters.   Chic Mamas are proud partners of Vintage with Love who work tirelessly for at least a year before the sale, collecting, sorting and pricing clothes to raise money for ECD and a number of…

Recently, a large study concluded in the UK revealed that being born in poverty often determines how your life will play out, what opportunities you will have, and your quality of life. Unless you have people who believe in you and uplift you as a person holistically – giving you a quality education – and a safe environment where you can reach your full potential, great opportunities and quality of life don’t come easily. Sadly, South Africans understand this all…

The concept of sustainability as we know it today came to light in 1987 in the famous Brundtland Report produced by several countries for the UN. It was defined as meeting 'the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. For the first time, a concept had been established to relate humanity's development with the need to manage resources in the best way possible. This meant a very important change in terms…

Since 2010, we've been sorting thousands, if not millions, of fashion garments. Last year was a particularly busy year at our shops, resulting in a wonderful and generous flow of donations. Today, we’ve grown into a fully-fledged real textile, garment and fabric recycling depot and the pillars of REDUCE–REUSE–RECYCLE are at the core of our mission. Oh boy, do we work hard on sorting, selecting, and scrutinising the best available stock. We always want to remain relevant, fresh, and immaculate…

As we find ourselves in somewhat of an awards season recognising and celebrating social entrepreneurship, we felt compelled to write about what being a social entrepreneur is all about. Broadly, social entrepreneurship is explained as ‘developing, funding, and implementing solutions to social, cultural, or environmental issues’. She.Leads.Africa published an article unpacking the ‘4 things you need to know about social entrepreneurship’; 1. It’s about People 2. It’s about Innovation 3. It’s about Collaboration 4. It’s about Passion. This resonates so much with our team.…