Bag selection

FEED Projects goal is to reach hungry children through the sales of our FEED bags.

FEED bags raise much-needed funds for WFP school-feeding operations and awareness of the problem of child hunger.

All FEED products are made as eco-friendly and fairly as possible. Our bags are produced with high-quality, 100% organic cotton and natural burlap. We work with only audited and certified fair labor facilities. It’s important to us to visit the places our products are made AND the places our donations are going.

The goal of FEED Projects is to market and sell as many FEED bags as possible and to FEED and educate the world’s 400 million hungry children.

After much hassle with suppliers and production I have decided to start a small manufacturing company, based just outside my home town (Durban).

My sketches on my door at home

My dream idea is to work with at a grassroots disadvantaged community level with a strong culture (Zulu). To experience together,
the skills development training that is required to be self sufficient.

We together, through a small manufacturing group, would produce products of beauty and grace, at an international quality standard to be exported.

These products in turn must provide a feeling of wellbeing and happiness to the person purchasing them. We are aiming for the ‘green’ sector market who is culturally curious and highly informed and seeks meaning in their everyday ritual.

MISSION:
To produce good and services into which meaning, beauty empathy and other soft values are integrated. Which services my passion which is to promote contemporary South African design in Europe, the employees needs, the greater community and generate a profit and growth for all stakeholders and shareholders.

I am spending hours on the net researching, hoping and praying this can come true! wish me luck pls.

These were the first of my own line of clothes.

I had the great opportunity to dress two of Norways ‘pow wow’ ladies. Singers, journalists and presenters Haddy Njie and Asta Busingye Lydersen. Both are part of the famous, all gal group called Queendom. Importing SA fashion was my first love, but due to the logistical hassles of doing bulk, have decided to go custom & solo.

There are more designs coming soon!

big love Laverne

Its been a dope day. Our Afro Marimba Jazz party and fashion show is set for the 23 May (see EVENTS page). I am soooo excited!

Today is also one of those blissful days in Norway. The sun is shining and just like reptiles, we all go out and bask in it. Today was also a highlight as I met up with Queen, an amazing woman from Ivory Coast who is studying in Oslo. She has the vibrance and life which good ideas thrive on. We met up at one of my favourite places, Cafe Sør ( means Cafe South ), for a double caffe latte and brainstorming for the upcoming mZansi-Life fashion show. She managed to hook me up with a videographer who will document the ML fashion show! Yeah! There are so many wonderful creative people in Oslo. We are also gathering outgoing friends to be models with the aim of showing real people with real cool clothes. So far there are two, and soon there will be more.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, its a nerve recking and exciting to be having our first fashion show! Hope you have an Afro Dope day too!

xx

Laverne

mZansi-madame

Hi. Its been a while hey!
Last month we were doing a road-trip of South Africa. From Cape Town to Zululand and never looked at a computer. But now we back and there is so much to tell about the holiday.

The most important thing is that mZansi-Madame is migrating to wordpress. (yes, i have threatened this before) but now its serious. mZansi-Life has its own home on wordpress and all posts will be featured there from now on.

Older posts will also be available on this new blog, so dont cry just yet if you are one of those who enjoy’s the search button. As I do.

Because this is the first week back from holiday, and im doing loads of washing, the blog will be running from next week. http://mzansilife.wordpress.com/

The new logo is to be unveiled as well as new fashion from South African designers. Our Spring Party is coming up as well as a creative collaboration photoshoot. So please do stay tuned and be a part of the mZansi-Life. No matter where you are in the world.

xxx

Laverne
Founder

View samples of the style of clothes mZansi-Life has imported to Oslo.
Click blog link and feedback is encouraged:

mzansi madame

I left my good Art Director job in Durban and moved to Oslo 10 months ago. It was not the crime or general frustration most South Africans site for leaving. Rather it was love. I had fallen in love with a viking and now was to leave my life behind and move to the coveted Scandinavia. Taking on ‘love immigrant’ status was harder than I thought. I found myself bewildered at this new life. Everything I had come to know and love of South Africa was suddenly gone, the fashion, the colour, the options, the people! I was wishing for that life again, the mZansi-Life so much I began to blog about it.

Why write all this? To empty my heart out and speak of my experience. To show that a wish can lead to a blog, which leads to a business doing something I absolutely love and needed to do.

mZansi-Life is that business which seeks to bring the Southern Life to Norway by promoting talented independent fashion designers in South Africa. Designers such as Miss Moneypenny, Muti and Beadworkz are the first to be welcomed under the mZansi-Life umbrella brand. Their style and story struck a chord at the pre-launch party last weekend.

Wonderful woman from all over the world living in Oslo responded to the invite; sushi, wine and clothes! Ladies from Germany, Burundi, South Africa, Britain and Norway all said the same thing:

We want colour.

We want choice.

And we want to know the story behind our clothes.

And South African designers answered. The party was a great success. The fashion was embraced and sparked an interest in S.A. design which is set to grow this summer in Norway. Miss Moneypenny was loved for her uniqueness and recycled vintage sari fabric. Beadworkz for the time and love put into every necklace and for supporting their community. Muti, for the original illustrative design of Clint Campbell.

I had to sit back and breathe a sigh of relief afterwards. It was like watching a baby being born. mZansi-Life took its first steps and is set to grow this summer. Next we plan a Spring Launch party and a fashion show. Who knows where from there?

There might be a chance to enjoy the mZansi-Life in the far North after all.

love

mzansi madame

P.S. I will be in South Africa this coming month looking for new designers. If you are one or know of one with good quality work, let’s chat!