'Hands Up' - An exciting new initiative for Tinkered by

We are very excited to launch a new initiative for Tinkered by...we are calling it 'Hands up' (until someone says that is way too corny & comes up with something better...we have till mid October!)

From time to time, we come across ‘stand out’ groups running projects that are practical, people orientated, and are inspirational in the ‘good’ they are achieving. We want to get behind these groups, and give them a 'hand up'. Every 6 months, we want to partner up with a new group, whose SOLE purpose is to improve lives! Tinkered by will promote their wares and send all proceeds directly back to the hands that created - every little cent(minus shipping!). Introducing LIFTED Uganda, a group of 5 women, our first partnering up!

We came across LIFTED Uganda on a recent trip and fell in love - they make the cutest ever little paint shirts! They are made from the beautiful & bold African Kitenge - a waxed cotton fabric - with a plastic lined front panel making them easy to clean - They have a kid friendly Velcro closure for quick on and off! Fun, practical, and made with love from Ugandan mum’s. 

We will be selling these paint shirts for $12.50, online - and promote the idea of bulk purchases through childcare centres and schools around Australia (please feel free to share this blog to any contact you may have in Australian education!)

This income helps these ladies provide for and educate their children. For Australians, it is a chance to make a direct impact and an opportunity to introduce cultural awareness and equity to our Aussie children. A connection between kids on opposite sides of the world. I'm sure we could even arrange for letters to be sent between the schools.

A little about 'LIFTED Uganda': Brought together by Katie Borchert, an American super mum, living in Uganda. The project aims: to lift lives, families and villages out of poverty through income generating businesses. LIFTED began in 2010, opening the way for a group of Ugandan mothers to earn an income by using their skills and being creative. All profits go directly to the Ugandan artist mama's so they can care for their families and educate their children. While small, they have a grand and simple vision - growth - so that more mum’s just like them, can earn an income using their hands and by being creative. You can find out more about this fab group of women at www.lifteduganda.org 

As for us...we are still dreaming large where ever we can...we imagine classrooms full of Australian children wearing their cute little Ugandan paint shirts, having loads of art time fun and making connections with Ugandan children on the other side of the world. We imagine the Ugandan mammas, with loads of orders = more money = more employment opportunities for others = the ability to achieve their dreams for their children.

A universal truth…we all want the best for our children. The sale of these paint shirts, will lead to improved lives and increased opportunity AND cleaner clothes when your kids come back from school! 

Live it, love it, dream it up big!

Comment below if you are interested in ordering a paint shirt and I'll get back to you asap (or comment if you can talk your school/ pre-school into a bulk order for a class - that would be sooo awesome!) Our Site is currently being re-vamped by the best ever web team in NZ ( After months and months of searching that muddy pool... we found mogul.co.nz - And I wholeheartedly give them the thumbs up!) ...we'll be launching mid october and you'll be able to buy the paint shirts online then! Kate xx

 

Hosting a Tinkered by Trunk Show

A PEEK inside a Tinkered by Trunk Show

Hosted by the lovely Catriona Nixon in her beautiful home in Carnarvon WA. A fun night of friends, storytelling and fabulous finds! Rachael Steadman, co-founder of Tinkered by, was there to bring us in on the ride!

Tinkered by is all about the artists. We hope to kick poverty’s butt by using fashion and design. By creating new markets, we are fostering creativity and building sustainability - brighter futures.

We have rounded up an amazing collection of clever designs for the Australian market - and our Trunk Shows are proving to be a super fun way to get our product & brand out there! Each Tinkered by piece has a story to tell - and we do LOVE to tell it.

Trunk Shows provide the opportunity to touch, feel, try on and read a little about each of our products. Guaranteed you won’t be able to help but get a little bit of ‘happy’ when you discover the African goddess behind the piece in your hand. You can also explore the trail of creation, the transformation of the recycled, up-cycled or raw materials used to create our awesome pieces. There will be another ‘wow’ when you let your mind wander to the ingenuity, thought and time that has gone into each handmade piece. Because - YES! - every piece is absolutely and entirely handmade. With love. We are ALL about handmade.

An evening with friends; Chatting and browsing, champagne in hand (does it get much better than that?) Whether you are simply an admirer or end up draped in Tinkered by fabulousness, I can guarantee you’ll want to share the story. And - let’s be honest here - that’s what it is about: like minded women styling themselves, their friends and getting behind the fabulous creators of the Tinkered by collection. 

Unique finds; Aren’t we all forever after something that is ‘just that little bit different’? You will find products made from ostrich egg and coconut shell, recycled glass, brass and aluminium, recycled paper, cow horn and bone, carved wooden bowls, sculpture and beads from fallen branches of the olive tree (dried for up to 7 years!), ceramics, cement bags and even the inner tube of tyres! We have a mix of jewellery, homewares, goodies for the kiddies and bags - plus a new range for the men arriving soon!

Using purchase power for good; Stylish women providing job creation, sustainability and independence through a unique shopping experience! We look good, feel good and DO good. What’s not to love?

A few laughs; Rachael Steadman, co-founder of Tinkered by. Love this woman!!!

Now for the plug; if you are dying to know how to get on board and host your very own Trunk Show, all you need to do is register your interest - GetInvolved , book a date, we’ll send you a trunk of goodies and an e-vite, and your on your way.

Freebies; Oops! I almost forgot a major plus:  as a host, you’ll receive Tinkered by freebies of your choice for being so fabulous and if the freebies don’t saturate your Tinkered by retail urges, you’ll get to shop at half price!

New Direction; Tinkered by is about to launch an exciting new branch to the business.

We want to empower women in East Africa and Australia. Tinkered by is growing into a social selling business model that uses fashion and design to create economic opportunities. Australian women can launch their own flexible and independent businesses by becoming a Tinkered by ‘Stylist’. Tinkered by stylists will be creating markets within their communities = empowerment to Artisans within their communities - A double bang! 

Becoming a Tinkered by Stylist is the perfect fit for women;

• who want to earn some extra dollars while having the flexibility to be a mum, a grand mum, a student, a hard working woman that wants a bit of part-time extra;
• who need to love what they do and want to see the impact of their efforts; 
• who love a story - and to tell one, given half the chance;
• with style & flair and who like to be creative every now and again. 
• who want to be apart of something a little bit bigger; something meaningful.
• who love the idea of ethical fashion and understand that every purchase made in this world has a voice;
• who love champagne (!!!) socializing with friends and shopping unique finds from around the world (because we will be spreading the love beyond East African soon enough!).

Contact us for further information on becoming a Tinkered by ‘Stylist’ or hosting a Trunk Show in your home or office environment. Live Bright! Kate x

Profile: Samwel Zangi Mwange

A profile on Samwel Zangi Mwange

Zangi, one of Tinkered by's fabulous  Artisans: He has a certain zing for life that is super admirable and endearing. Working with Brass and aluminum, he creates unique African Jewellery. Last week were invited to his home and workshop for the first time. My respect for this man grew dynamically for the second time! This is no sob story - far from it - a great story of triumph under some pretty tough circumstance!

Zangi and his family live in the Mathare slum on the outskirts of Nairobi - an area known for it's crime, displacement and extremely tough living conditions. We weaved or way through small corrugated iron lined pathways, till we reached Zangi's home and workshop - a diamond in the rough. The morning was fresh but the previous night had seen a massive down pour of rain and the mud and rubbish throughout the little alley ways was, to be honest, mind blowing. 

As we walked (carefully) on bricks and little wooden plank bridges over open drains and mini rivers on the pathways, we were graciously welcomed by all we passed. Kids playing, young men sitting and chatting together, mammas and old men busy cleaning their small defined spaces after breakfast. It's an eerie duality of life - surrounded by horrendous poverty and living conditions, but each encounter polite and welcoming, each space so beautifully clean and standing proud - someone's home.

We were received into Zangi's home with Kenyan chai. Hot tea in hand, we entered his workshop - a well organised and remarkable creative space - another wake up call for the day....week actually! A former drug addict and self taught jeweller, Zangi has built his business gradually over the last 15 years, initially by saving 15 shillings (about 20 cents) of his daily pay as a construction worker.  

Zangi's philosophy - provide for his family, and  help others (drug afflicted) to find their way out of destructive habits and build sustainable lives for themselves - a meaningful life. When Zangi secures large orders, he can have up to 10 men in his workshop at a time, working together, learning, supporting, making money. An awesome man with vision...I personally found more inspiration from this man and his workshop, environment, his drive and zing for life, than I have for many years. Below are a few photo's Rose and I took on our visit - sorry they don't do justice to the experience, I just couldn't bring myself to take the photos I would have loved to share. We've ordered some fabulous new product from Zangi which we will showcase on the tinkered by website in the coming months. Sign up to our monthly newsletter to stay in touch. For our current Zangi range, visit our 'earrings page';p http://bit.ly/1hPk4yx . All brass earrings are made by Zangi.

Zangi's Collection of Keyan and West African beads for design.

Zangi's mate working away while we drank chai and caught up.

Zangi makes aluminum earrings from old cooking pots! ingenious...

Thanks Zangi for having us. One of those memorable moments in life. xx Kate Boston.

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