OUR STORY
OUR STORY
My name is Sarah Lederman. I am the founder of BAMBA ZONKE.
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I was born and raised in France. Both my parents worked in fashion managing a 'Pret-a-Porter' and my mother designed and made theatre costumes. So the love of design and fashion has always surrounded me.
I started my career as a Graphic Designer and Stylist and have been fortunate enough to travel extensively to Asia and the Pacific Ocean islands. This is where I was first inspired by the diversity of the local fabric: woven (ikat), Hand-printed (Indonesian Batik) and the colourful fabric of the Polynesian women.
I moved to Cape Town from Paris about 20 years ago. People are always shocked by this asking me: "How can you leave the city of love?"
But Cape Town is beautiful and it really stole my heart. I had been traveling a bit before deciding to settle here, so I really mean it when I say it's one of the most gorgeous cities in the world.
The surrounding beauty, the warm smiles of the local people, the beaches and great weather - there is so much to love".
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WHY START A BUSINESS DESIGNING BAGS?
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For me, bags are an essential fashion accessory. I love to travel and needed somewhere to carry my adventure keepsakes in. I was looking for the perfect holiday bag but could not find what I wanted. So I decided to create it myself.
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Cape Town is my source of inspiration: from the turquoise seas, & endless sport, to fashion, forests, open spaces & wild, natural, outdoor living - I wanted to create something practical. A strong, colourful, trendy bag. And so I did.
And that's how, in 2014, Bamba Zonke was born.
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The name Bamba Zonke in Zulu means:
"to hold in your hands".
Quite fitting I thought, considering a bag is what you hold...
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OUR TEAM & CRAFTMANSHIP
BAMBA ZONKE proudly supports local South African manufacturers and is dedicated to uplifting women in disadvantaged communities through providing employment. Every product is sourced and created locally.
Our Crocheted Bags are hand-made & beautifully crafted by a group of talented local Zimbabwean women using South African sourced recycled yarn.
I have worked with the same team of passionate seamstresses, factories and family businesses since the beginning of the very first sample in 2014, and they are spread across Retreat, Woodstock & Hout Bay in the city of Cape Town, South Africa.