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Category Archives: Responsible Fashion

Traditional Roofing in Kenya

Posted by wlwsWP on October 18, 2011 No comments

By: Scolastica Fundi – Eco-factory assistant – 18th October 2011

Our pilot REDD project area at Rukinga, Kenya, Wildlife Works’ growth has been tremendous within this last year.  We are erecting seven new building all using traditional materials and techniques.

Here we show traditional roofing called Makuti in the building of our new dining room.  Makuti are bunches weaved leaves from a coconut plant caked Mnazi in Swahili.  They are mostly found in coastal region of Kenya.  Kenyan coastal people like the Mijikenda tribe mostly do Makuti production.

PROCESS OF MAKING MAKUTI:

STEP 1: The coconut plant leaves are harvested when they turn brown

STEP 2: The leaves are soaked in water to facilitate easy folding.

STEP 3: Sticks are cut according to the appropriate size for building.

For example, 30cm sticks are used for folding over the makuti.

STEP 4: The leaves are stitched over the sticks using back stitching method.

STEP 5: The makuti are carefully packed in bundles and stored safely.

STEP 6: When roofing, the makuti are first tied to the roofing structure from the bottom going upwards, to the topline of the roof using a sisal fiber. The makuti are laid down in a way that they overlap at a distance of 4 inches to avoid water dripping inside the house.

The advantages of using makuti are that they have efficient cooling effect than other roofs and are the cheapest way of roofing in Kenyan coast.

Stay tuned for more eco building techniques from the Kenyan bush.

 

Eco-Factory Expansion Progress

Posted by wlwsWP on August 2, 2011 No comments
By JAMIE HENDRIKSEN-Carbon Operations Manager- 7th July 2011
The construction for our second eco-factory at Rukinga has begun.
All supporting pillars have been cast, ready to receive the roof trusses and verandah shades. Roof trusses have been fabricated and are ready to go up as soon as the floor slab is laid. Drainage, plumbing, steel ring beams and ventilation are all ongoing.
The slab for the factory floor is being laid today. Reinforcing mesh and spacers have been laid. The entire slab has to be poured in one day to avoid cracking from temperature changes. Forty locally employed staff are working on site today to ensure this gets done in time.
Mixing “karais” are filled and emptied into the mixer continuously for the duration of the day, keeping a non stop flow of concrete mix available for the masons.
With exception of the concrete mixer and a concrete vibrator, all other work is manual. Forty tonnes of construction gravel,  20 tonnes of sand and ten tonnes of cement are being mixed today and laid out.
Progress is good on site, and we believe we are on schedule for completion of the construction of the factory building by September.

Production on our relaunch collection has begun!

Posted by Joyce Hu Creative Director on December 29, 2010 No comments

For the first time in Wildlife Works’ 14 year history, we brought our screen printing process in house, making us the largest screen printing operation in Kenya outside of Nairobi. And here it is:

The temporary housing for our screen printing operation.

Staging and screen printing table.

Paschal washing the screens

I was reminded of power of pure human skill as I watched these guys produce what machines here in the west do in seconds. Peter, our color specialist, was able to mix and match a pantone color swatch by eye with 80% accuracy, on the FIRST try.

Since we didn’t have running water at this site, the newly exposed screens had to be sprayed off by hand with a handheld spritzer bottle. Not one guy complained about a hand cramp!

hand made screens

Working with Gilbert, the screenprinter.

Example of our graphic placement for one style.

Pile of films, which had to be printed in the US and hand carried to Kenya.

The site didn’t have lights set up either so the sun dictated our working hours.

Driving the guys home after a long day screen printing.

Wildlife Works Factory

Posted by wlwsWP on October 30, 2010 No comments

July 10, 2010: by Joyce Hu, Creative Director for Wildlife Works Retail:

I started today working with the factory manager, Daniel, to develop the patterns I want to launch with this winter. I briefly met the women working in the factory – there are about 10 right now. They are busy with a big order for ASOS in London.

The factory has produced product for many of the big eco fashion labels such as Loomstate and EDUN. White label business is always less desirable because their work is dependent on the clients’ pricing, business, etc. The main goal of this factory is to create and sustain skilled jobs for the local community so having our own successful label with vertical integration is ideal.

Daniel the factory manager

Last weekend, we went to Diani Beach, one of the world’s top white sand beach resort getaways.

Diani also hosts a fair trade sewing factory that ships internationally. Soko Kenya is run by an English gal, Joanna Maiden, who came to Kenya right out of uni and was inspired to set up shop to provide jobs in the local community. She’s been in business for 2 years and is already profitable, but barely.

She was stressed about a check for her workers’ pension that hadn’t cashed since she sent it in Feb for the amount of 20,000 shillings which is about $250. Employers are require by law to contribute to pension but nobody believes they will receive a penny of it.  I’m not sure it’s been legal for long enough for a retiree to reap or be cheated out of it so we can’t be sure the system is working.

It is really incredible and humbling to see someone so young working so hard to make a difference in a country that is so hard to do so. More about Soko Kenya here and here.

Our relaunch collection is inspired by the beautiful Khangas worn by East African women. These are some of the khangas I picked up on this trip:

Community Newsletter September 2010

Posted by wlwsWP on October 30, 2010 No comments

This is our third newsletter of a series in which we would like to take the opportunity to inform our neighbours and the local community about the activities of Wildlife Works Carbon (WWC). WWC is an exciting new arm of Wildlife Works that aims to access the growing global carbon market for the benefit of Kenyans.

WILDLIFE WORKS FACTORY EPZ

In conjunction with Wildlife Works Carbon, based on Rukinga Ranch is Wildlife Works Factory EPZ.  The EPZ was setup in 2001 and the construction of a clothing factory was started.  The aim of the factory was to create local employment opportunities, and training for local craftsmen and women.  Mr. Daniel Munyao manages the clothing factory and it currently employs 15 people. Fabrics are imported, and manufactured into high quality clothing, and are exported to the European and American markets.  It is the aim of Wildlife Works EPZ to continue to expand the clothing factory in the future, and with that expansion create further employment opportunities within the area and within our local communities.

 

BURSARY SCHEME THROUGH THE EYES OF ONE OUR SPONSORED STUDENTS CATHERINE MWALUGHA

“I am 19 years old and I was successfully sponsored in 2006 after I completed my Primary School education in Jora Primary at Kasigau. I joined a provincial school known as Bura Girls, which is found in Taita District. The course took four years and by 2009 I successfully completed and achieved a mean grade of B+. This is a grade that will qualify me to join a public University.

At the moment I am working at Wildlife Works as a volunteer waiting to join University. I would like to study medicine, as this has always been my dream job. It has been nice working at Wildlife Works since I have not wasted my time outside the village doing nothing. And I am really enjoying this, as I would be staying here until next year on August when I leave for University.”

 

CONSTRUCTION OF SECURITY POST NEAR RUKINGA HILL

Towards the end of September 2010, construction began on a new Rangers and Security post on Rukinga Ranch, near Rukinga hill. This construction has given temporary employment to 7 people from Makwasenyi, another 7 people from Bungule Village and also team of fundi’s from Maungu Village. The new post is strategically positioned within the centre of the Wildlife Works Carbon project area, to enable us to increase patrols and offer further support to the ongoing carbon project.

RECRUITEMENT DATES FOR NEW WILDLIFE WORKS RANGERS


 

We will be holding recruitment days around the community in the area to increase the number of Rangers we have:

On the 5 November at KAJIRE for the people of Kajire /Kishamba/ Mwambiti.

On the 6 November at MARAPU for the people of Zongwani/ Raghas/ Marapu/Tario & Teri

On the 9 November at LANDI for the people of Mbarenyi/Mwatate & Mzwanenyi

On the 12 November at MAKWASINYI for the people of Rukanga/ Jora/ Bungule/ Makwasinyi & Kiteghe

There is a height restriction of 5ft 6 inches otherwise ALL are welcome. Please be there at 7.00 am on the day

COLLECTION DATES FOR SEEDLINGS

 

We shall be coming to the community areas to collect tree seedlings as per our previous newsletter. We will provide the transport from the nearest road, so would request all seedlings to be positioned close to the road on the appropriate dates as we will not be able to go into individual homesteads for collection, due to time restraints. Payment will be made for all seedlings according to the most recent newsletter (July/August)

 

MARUNGU HILL: MAUNGU/ITINIYI/MARUNGU/KALE & MKAMENYI  3RD NOVEMBER

KASIGAU AREA SASENYI/BUGUTA/ KISIMENYI/ KITEGHE ON 4th NOVEMBER

KASIGAU AREA RUKANGA/ JORA/ BUNGULE/ MAKWASINYI 5TH NOVEMBER

SAGALLA HILL LOWER TRUCK SHALL PASS ALONG THE MAIN ROUTE AROUND 8TH NOVEMBER

If anyone with any specific questions please call Lenjo at Wildlife Works.

Many thanks for everybody’s help and participation.

Karibu

Posted by wlwsWP on October 30, 2010 No comments

Karibu means Welcome in Swahili.

This is the pre pre relaunch blog of Wildlife Works, which was started in 1997 by the visionary Mike Korchinsky.

Wildlife Works Sancuary

Mike’s first trip to Africa for vacation 14 years ago launched him into a lifetime’s work to save Africa’s wildlife. He saw a cycle of violence between the rangers, poachers and wildlife that prevented any chance for long-term, sustainable solutions for the community. He quit the consulting company he started and sold, purchased 80,000 acres of land in East Kenya to build his vision for Wildlife Works, an apparel production company advancing economic and social solutions for communities where wildlife survival is threatened.

Currently, over 500,000 acres of land in Rukinga is under Wildlife Works’ protection and over 200 jobs have been provided, making Wildlife Works the largest job provider in the area of 45,000 residents.

We will be posting stories from the African bush where we are catching poachers, building schools, rehabilitating wildlife, saving trees and challenging the limits in sustainable fashion design.

Visit us often. Our new website, designs and Facebook page coming soon!

WHAT IS WILDLIFE WORKS?

Protecting + Wildlife + Forests + Community since 1997.
Wildlife Works is Consumer Powered Conservation In action. We're all in this together. Whether you buy eco-friendly fashion or carbon credits, we turn your dollars into programs for saving endangered and threatened wildlife and preserving forests around the globe. It's a win-win where everyone benefits: wild animals +trees + the planet + local communities + you.

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