What we do

Fair Trade Wedding Stationery does exactly what it says on the tin - we supply a range of exquisite wedding stationery hand made under fair trade policies in South Africa.

We offer everything from fair trade save the date cards through to place settings, gift bags and wedding journals.

The stationery is made from recycled papers made using rooibos tea, seaweed and invasive river reed.

Everything is produced at the Iziko Lo Lwazi project in Cape Town where a great team of people work together to make a real difference to their lives and the lives of others.

In addition to the three designs that we offer, the bespoke service will make something entirely to your specification - just let us know what you require. If you wish to co-ordinate your wedding colours, exquisite hand painted ribbon is available on all albums and some invitations.

Ethical action

The ladies at the Iziko Lo Lwazi project have successfully made paper for a number of years. The project originally started as an adult literacy project in the township of Imizamo Yethu and now provides a good livelihood for a number of families.

Learning is a luxury when families need food so facilitators decided to start a project which would enable students to learn while earning.

Papermaking was chosen as the raw materials required were freely available and easy to come by. The equipment needed in the early stages was minimal. A large tin bath was bought, frames were donated, a pounding stick was unearthed in the woodpile and the project got under way.

Initially waste paper from the local recycling centre was mixed with invasive river reed to make a beautifully textured paper. Used paper from a local bank is now donated and new textures have been developed which include Seaweed paper - using seaweed collected from the Atlantic beaches and Rooibos tea paper which incorporates dried tea leaves.

Rooibos tea, River Reed and Seaweed are the three papers that form the basis of our Wedding Stationery Range.

A few ways we're trying to make a difference

Recycling

The paper which forms the basis of the stationery is all recycled.

Reducing carbon footprint

Orders are brought over via sea mail.

Using organic products

The products used for paper making are all natural.

Supporting fair trade

The whole project is a fair trade project and this employment has made a real difference to the lives of those involved.

Supporting / working with a charity

The project is a not for profit organisation but we also support a children’s charity in the Cape winelands and sponsor two little girls to attend crèche daily. We sell calico shopping bags and all profits from the sale of these go back to Pebbles Project.

Supporting / working with a community / social project

Iziko lo Lwazi is very much a community project. As a centre of learning the ladies are also taught literacy skills as well as being given the ability to earn a very decent wage.

Other things we do

We’re making a difference with something different. This isn’t a job it’s a way of life.