The case weavers
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3weaving communities in Bolgatanga - Upper East Ghana employed to make Pala's unique glasses cases by hand.
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2.5xpaid 2.5x the national minimum wage to help invest back into their farming and local community.
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30,000discarded water sachets have been collected from the ground to be woven in to each case.
From the very beginning Pala has always wanted to connect our story back to Africa in as many ways as possible. Our cases are no exception. We partner with Care4basket a non-governmental organisation (NGO) running an initiative in Bolgatanga, Upper East Ghana.
Working with artisans that traditionally weave straw baskets, they were able to experiment, learn and adapt their skills to weave the unique cases that you now see with every Pala frame.
Each weaver is proud of their work and write their name on the case label. If you ever want to see a photograph of your weaver just let us know!
The traditional elephant grass that the weavers would normally weave with has moved further down south due to climate change and the increasing incidence of drought and crop failure.
Innovating by using recycled plastic means as an alternative means they have access to a readily available material and not expose the women to travelling long distances out into the bush to source their materials. Learn the story of hope that using recycled plastic is providing for the communities in our video Wealth not a Waste.
Pala has prevented 5 tonnes of plastic being burnt or going to landfill from using the recycled plastic. We have also used over 30,000 water sachets in our cases too. By putting a monetary value on these water sachets, this is leading to habit change with once discarded sachets being retained for their material value for our cases.
“Using recycled plastic waste materials for hand woven sunglasses cases in partnership with Pala, the weavers are able to bridge the income gap when crops fail, which due to climate change is becoming more frequent. ”
Jib Hagan, Founder of NGO Care4basket
We pay the weavers more than 2.5x the minimum wage. It is important to provide an income that, doesn’t simply sustain, but helps them to empower themselves out of poverty. This progressive wage enables them to pay for things beyond everyday necessities such as hospital, school and funeral fees which would otherwise be a struggle.
Working with the communities in this way enables Pala to connect with a number of the UN’s Sustainability Goals:
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SDG 1 – Reduce Poverty
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 8 – Decent Work & Economic Growth.
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SDG 12 – Responsible Production & Consumption.
Using traditional crafts and applying them to a modern product such as our sunglasses case is a solution for both people and planet and it’s exciting to see how we can grow this unique relationship in the future.