Folk Art South Africa – Recycled products with a mission
Folk Art South Africa was born out of a passion for South African folk art and a strong desire to contribute to the needs of those living with HIV/AIDS and to help those living with the disease to attain a sustainable income. A good portion of their site is made up of products made from recycled materials…so, of course, that’s why we love ‘em!
OllyMolly Recycled Wallet
Mirrors framed in plastic bottle tops or flip flop circles and decorated using recycled rope.
Wallets carefully handcrafted using recycled paper labels and laminated plastic. These colorful money holders are created by a company called “Ollymolly”. A percentage of the profit from Ollymolly products goes towards the support of AIDS infected and affected infants at the Bowry House in South Africa.
$16.99 Ollymolly wallet at Folk Art South Africa
$34.99 Ollymolly handbag at Folk Art South Africa
Wola Nani Papier Mache Bowls
Made by women living with HIV/AIDS created from recycled over-prints from canning factories in Cape Town. Great for wall decor or holding bananas on the kitchen counter…not for food storage.
$9.99 at Folk Art South Africa
Small Zolo
Made from recycled rubber tires, a fun little creature to brighten up your home or workspace.
$18.99 at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled Square Mirror
The Kommetjie Environmental Awareness Group (KEAG) runs litter clean-up projects on the beaches of the South African Cape Peninsula. Hundreds of bags of litter are collected each month- mostly plastics. With this in mind, KEAG began to explore the concept of making crafts from waste.
$42.00 at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled Cow Head Mask
Crafts from waste. The masks are made from recycled bottle tops, slip slops circles, and recycled plastic containers.
$39.99 at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled Candle Stick Holders – from bottle caps
Recycled bottle caps upcycled and transformed into candle sticks to add a bit of eco-friendly sparkle to your dinner party.
$24.99 – $31.99 depending on height at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled “Africa Time” Desk Clock
Created from recycled tin cans and handpainted.
$34.99 at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled Goat Head Mask- Black Leather
Masks created from recycled bottle tops, flip flop circles, plastic containers, and leather bicycle seats. Created from the KEAG clean up projects which collect litter strewn on South African beaches.
$42.00 at Folk Art South Africa
Recycled Round Mirror with Hearts and Circles
Mirrors framed in plastic bottle tops or pieces of flip flops circles and decorated using recycled rope.
$39.99 at Folk Art South Africa
May 9th, 2008 18:25
Hey! Thanks for all the great info. I was browsing through a bunch of green websites and blogs and I came across yours and found it very interesting. There are a bunch of others I like too, like the daily green, ecorazzi and earthlab.com. I especially like EarthLab.com’s carbon calculator (http://www.earthlab.com/signupprofile/). I find it really easy to use (it doesn’t make me feel guilty after I take it). Are there any others you would recommend? Can you drop me a link to your favorites (let me know if they are the same as mine).
May 20th, 2008 11:10
I think it’s great to find creative ways to re-use materials, but by making mirrors or masks, aren’t we just perpetuating consumerism. I’d like to see what we could make out of them that is more of a necessity than an ornament. T-shirts made from recycled coke bottles, flooring made from recycled tires. I think we’re so close.
Dagny McKinley
http://www.onnotextiles.com
organic apparel
June 28th, 2008 02:02
I agree there is way too much crap in this world. But the purpose of this blog is to open people’s eyes to “reusing POSSIBILITIES”. In other words, try using something one more freaking time before it hits the trash can …if you use trash to make something stupid and ornamental …so be it!! We all need stupid and ornamental occasionally …at least we are completely brainwashed to want it in the modern world. ….so why not have “recycled” stupid and ornamental, if you have to have it.
…I’d love to preach anti-consumerism … but I try to keep one toe in reality too. We’re just having fun here.
thanks for stopping by,
Liz
February 27th, 2010 20:40
Hello,
I am attempting to reuse almost all of our trash and make art projects with some kids. Would you be able to guide me to some good sites or crafts? Also I am interested in your work!! I love it. We’re excited about this. The kids have been helping to sort everything and now we need ideas!
Thanks a million,
Jackie
April 8th, 2011 22:06
interested in the cow skull masks for sale but cannot access the link FOlk Art South Africa. Is this site defunct or is there an updated link?