In this feature we look at three creative women who are merging their creativity with a passion for wildlife conservation. We love the concept of #WearYourKarma movement, and you can find out how to support some great organisations and look stylish too!
Wild in Africa – Bracelets for Wildlife
Australian-born Shannon Wild was just beginning to establish herself in the wildlife film and photography industry when severe illness put her career on hold.
The shift from wildlife documentaries to jewellery making wasn’t a conscious decision. After pushing myself to exhaustion, I became gravely ill and collapsed while on assignment in the Masai Mara. Bedridden, the frustration pushed me to find an alternative creative outlet. I dismantled some of my beaded bracelets and redesigned them, and soon I was selling them. Before I knew it, Wild in
Africa – Bracelets for Wildlife was born, registered and open for business.
I’ve always loved beads and wanted to create affordable bracelets that utilise natural elements as an alternative to precious stones and metals. My bracelets suit men, women and children, and can be worn casually or formally.
The Nkhombe rhino bracelet by Wild in Africa – Bracelets for Wildlife
Aside from earning an income from selling my bracelets, I also wanted to give back to conservation. Animals have given my life meaning, so the amount given to conservation from sales needed to be significant – I elected to donate 50 per cent of the purchase price. I feel that if people are buying my bracelets in order to support conservation, then I have to be very clear about exactly how much is being donated. It’s that simple. Wild in Africa supports seven different charities.
Find Shannon’s creations on Instagram @shannonwildjewellery and shop for your own bracelet at wildinafrica.store. #WearYourKarma
Anna Rosholt Jewellery Design
Anna has always been attracted to things with a bit of vonkel and flair, and gives credit to her grandmother for her interest in jewellery.
I don’t have a favourite piece from my collection, but I do have a soft spot for the Baby Beetle Eternity Ring. It features a full circle of tiny African dung beetles and is full of detail, but it’s also an everyday staple that you can stack, mix and match.
There’s so much about Africa that inspires me – the people, the landscape and the wildlife are totally intoxicating. I visited the bush often while I was growing up, and it really is where my soul is happiest.
Left: A member of the Black Mamba all-female anti-poaching unit. Right: The Khulula pendant by Anna Rosholt.
Ten per cent of our Rhino Range sales go to the Black Mamba anti-poaching unit. Black Mamba is an all-female unit; empowering women in our communities is so important. The Black Mamba team believe that the war on poaching won’t be won with guns, but through social upliftment and education.
I want to run a business that is socially and environmentally aware, giving me a meaningful life as well as a living. The Black Mamba’s work is a reminder of the importance of looking after the environment as well as your own community.
Find Anna on Instagram @annarosholt_jewellery, and her collection at annarosholt.com.
PANGO & LINN.
Lotty van der Hulst, founder of PANGO & LINN., says that the urge to protect and fight for wildlife has been with her since childhood.
From the start, I knew that I wanted my leather brand to do some good. It had to mean something. Some years back, hardly anyone knew what a pangolin was, never mind that they were and are still ‘the most trafficked animals you’ve never heard of’. There were no brands or campaigns dedicated to pangolin protection. For me, the pangolin was a special wildlife underdog, so I founded PANGO & LINN., which raises awareness and funds for pangolin protection.
Centring my brand around conservation and sustainability has influenced my approach to business in every way possible. For starters, my products are made entirely by hand, and I only use vegetable-tanned leather. It’s the toughest kind to work with, but it’s durable. Using soft ‘fashion leather’ would be much easier, but this variety is tanned using chromium, which is one of the most destructive chemicals in the world. You can’t build a brand on conservation and sustainability and then use a process that contradicts them.
I want your bag to be passed on to your grandkids. It’s possible, and my process ensures this. Society needs to break away from the bad habits of throwing things away and replacing, which is why PANGO & LINN. products come with a lifetime guarantee.
The Field Bag by PANGO & LINN.
The pangolin itself is the inspiration for the collection. The lines and shapes on the designs reference its unique scales and form part of the brand’s signature look. Because of the environmentally friendly ethos of the brand, it made sense to create a safari and travel collection (bags, belts, binocular cases, wallets and luggage tags) that was durable enough to take a punch while out in the field, but was also timeless and classic enough for the urban jungle.
Up to 20 per cent of all PANGO & LINN. proceeds are donated to pangolin projects across Africa.
Find it on Instagram @pangoandlinn, shop at pangoandlinn.com.
WIN
You could win this wildlife accessories hamper, worth R4 ,430, from Wild in Africa, Anna Rosholt Jewellery Design and PANGO & LINN.
To stand a chance to win this awesome hamper, enter here.
This feature was first published in the May/June 2020 issue of Getaway magazine.
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