About Us
Creativity And Design Focused
Owethu Umghele is a small cooperative owned by three members who share a passion for sewing and design. The business focuses on creating high-quality textile products while empowering community members to develop valuable sewing skills. As a growing enterprise, Owethu Umghele seeks funding and partnerships to expand its operations and increase its impact. In 2022, the cooperative received a sponsorship that provided a sewing machine –a vital step toward building a sustainable and thriving business.
Our Partners
Owethu Umghele is a small cooperative owned by three dedicated members who transform textiles into functional, sustainable products. Through the USE-IT incubation programme, the cooperative receives business mentoring, access to workspace, linkages to markets, and a steady supply of waste materials for upcycling. This partnership helps Owethu Umghele grow from a small sewing initiative into a viable green enterprise, creating jobs and promoting local skills development. By combining creativity with circular economy principles, the collaboration demonstrates how waste can become opportunity, supporting both people and the planet.
Owethu Umghele began as an Enterprise Development sewing cooperative in Hammarsdale, established in 2019 through the DO MORE Foundation’s Street Business School programme. The initiative brought together a diverse group of 13 young people from the local community, united by a shared goal to build skills, create employment, and explore opportunities within the textile sector.