Love Local: 5 South African Brands to Support This October
It’s now more important than ever to support local businesses and seek out products that are home-grown. Luckily, you don’t have to look very far to ‘love local’ so, if you’re looking to spoil yourself or friends and family this month then you can’t go wrong with buying from these 5 South African born brands.
Love local fit fashion
We could all use a little more positivity in our lives. Homegrown fitness fashion brand, Positive Pants is all about bringing love and light to its customers and fellow small South African businesses. Started 3 years ago by sisters Monie and Roxie, Positive Pants has grown from a side-hustle to a fully-fledged small business. The sisters noticed a gap in the market for fun, affordable gym clothes that not only catered for all body shapes and sizes, but that were also squat-proof. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, they decided to create the solution themselves.
Today Positive Pants is loved by South African fitness fanatics for its functional, flaterring, high-quality activewear that truly caters for ALL body types. So, whether you’re into the body positive movement or are just longing for vibrant, beautiful, and fun activewear that doesn’t cost the world, Positive Pants has got you covered.
But the positive vibes don’t stop there. The gals at Positive Pants are also about sharing the love and helping to support other small businesses in South Africa through the #WeAreShe campaign. The campaign has been running since March this year and sees the Positive Pants team promoting other small businesses owned by fellow South African women to its over 50K collective following on social media.
Shop the Positive Pants collection online now.
Love local jewellery
Just because Heritage Day has come and gone doesn’t mean you can’t keep the spirit of loving local alive all year long. Join Galaxy & Co in paying homage to our roots with the beautiful Africa collection. Galaxy & Co’s range of trend-driven and locally designed fine fashion jewellery offers South African women a chance to make each look meaningful by stacking it up, mixing metals and keeping it playful.
The exciting new Africa collection hero’s our great continent by infusing meaning into your stylish everyday staples. Layer it up with watches, necklaces, hoops, studs, and bracelets with pieces starting from as little as R199. A piece of jewellery from the Galaxy & Co Africa Collection offers an easy and affordable way to add a touch of heritage and appreciation to your look every day; whether you’re off to a braai with your mates or having a family celebration.
To shop jewellery from Galaxy & Co, simply visit the website now.
Love local skincare
Cape Town-based skincare brand, Lulu & Marula offers South African beauties all-natural, ethically produced skincare products with a local twist. With its collection of face and body care products, Lulu & Marula creates conscious, scientifically formulated skincare that works with the skin to balance and boost its natural processes. Lulu & Marula believes that caring for our skin is a much-needed daily ritual, for our minds as much as our bodies. Endorsed by the Beauty Without Cruelty association, Lulu & Marula products are not tested on animals and ingredients are all of natural origin.
If you’re looking to invest in a more natural skincare routine for summer then why not treat your skin to the Lulu & Marula Cleansing balm, Balancing Hydra Serum, and Refreshing Tonic Mist? Sun weary skin will also love the Energising body balm and Energising bath oil, which will assist with nourishing the skin and help put back any moisture lost from frolicking in the sun.
Shop the full Lulu & Marula range online.
Love local keepsakes
Shopping for special baby shower gifts for friends and family can be a daunting task. Especially if you’re after something beyond the usual babygrows and wet wipes. That’s why Messages for Mama is stepping up the gifting game with a premium, locally designed, and manufactured range of baby accessories for those intimate moments mom and baby share. Created by fellow mom Jana Leonard, and fashion designer Ricci JVR, this range of baby keepsakes is indeed a game-changer.
From playtime to feeding time, bath time to their sleep routine — Messages for Mama will hold a new mom’s hand and support her when the going gets tough. Each product has an encouraging embroidered Message for Mama, to remind her of her support system even on her toughest days. Choose from a variety of pre-selected messages of encouragement or personalise your message for something even more special. Not only targeted to the more challenging times, Messages for Mama aims to remind mom that she’s an amazing, wonderful and strong woman who has the magic within her! Motherhood is hard, but “Mama, you’ve got this!”
Messages for Mama products are of the highest quality, made locally and to last — both in trend and durability. The brand launched with 12 products including a one and two-tone Summer Muslin blanket; a revolutionary, padded and waterproof Everywhere Mat; washcloths; burp cloths; and more. What’s more, Messages for Mama has removed all the clutter by means of pattern and print, offering classically designed products that actually get the job done. Think bold, but trendy solid colours, because motherhood is anything but beige!
Shop the full collection online here.
Love local conservation efforts
Try shopping with a difference this month and support the WWF South Africa (World Wide Fund for Nature) online store. This summer, the WFF is encouraging shoppers to connect with nature while supporting local businesses at the same time. If you need to stock up on some summer essentials, then consider investing in some green goodies that will help support our natural heritage as well.
We live in a mega-diverse country with some of the world’s richest biodiversity and through its online store, the WWF South Africa offers some must-have items that are local, sustainable, support conservation, and encourage people to get out and experience the beauty of South Africa’s natural environment. WWF works in a range of areas to protect our natural resources — oceans, land, wildlife — so that we can continue to benefit from everything nature provides us with such as food, energy and freshwater. Available on the WWF SA online store, all products are ethically or sustainably sourced and are made of recycled or recyclable material or from 100% African cotton where applicable.
Among the eco-friendly products on offer are stylish beach bags (made from waste fabric that normally goes into landfills); bold and beautifully designed t-shirts for men, women, and children (made from recycled plastic); on-trend handbags (made from recycled PET bottles); and more.
To shop the collection of sustainable products online, visit the WWF shop now.