Simoyi partners South African artisans

Bruce Ndlovu
Zimbabwean fashion designer extraordinaire Farai Simoyi has combined with a group of artisans from the South African township of Soweto to create a new line of bags that are set to be integral to the designera��s new collection.

Called the Soweto Shopper, the designs betray Simoyia��s eye for detail and style which has been combined with the Soweto artisansa�� use of simple everyday material for eye catching designs.

Simoyi is currently Nicky Minaja��s chief designer while she has previously been the senior denim designer for House of Dereon, the clothing label by Beyonce Knowles and her mother, Tina Knowles.

She was recently in South Africa, where she held radio and TV interviews.

The bag is also part of Simoyia��s drive to use material that is eco-friendly.

a�?In collaboration with Women Artisans in Soweto we present to you our Soweto Shopper! Made from up-cycled crochet yarn as the exterior & recyclable maize meal sacks as the interior, this product is 100% Eco-Friendly,a�? Simoyi said when she posted the first images of the bag on her Instagram page.

In the post, Simoyi also noted that proceeds from the bag would also be going to the communities that her collaborators come from.

a�?With our passion for being an ethical and sustainable brand, your purchase of this bag has already made an impact.

Each bag purchased puts money back into the community by assisting children who have been abused, homeless, and in orphanages,a�? read the post from Simoyi.