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Paint Industry Branch Supervisor Plettenberg Bay

Footwear project creates local jobs

21 May 2009

Industrial design students from Holland's Technical University of Delft, with the help of nongovernmental organisation Kids Rights and local and international sponsoring companies, are set to take the Dutch fashion scene by storm with a range of leather sandals manufactured at a Durban company, which is putting its profits back into the community.

The Ubuntu Company, in Riverhorse Valley, has created jobs for 67 previously unemployed people from nearby townships who are producing leather sandals with soles made from recycled rubber tyres. The profits from the environmentally friendly project go towards education, health and housing for the local community.

Branded as Plakkies, the sandals were designed by well known Dutch shoe designer Jan Jansen, but the patterns on the inner soles were the work of local orphans.

The flip-flops were launched with major fanfare in the Dam Square opposite the Royal Palace in Amsterdam last week.

At the official opening of the factory last week, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade Frank Heemskerk said the translation from an idea on paper to a fully functioning factory in just 12 months was a miracle which would provide a future for people from the local community.

GM Arafath Khan said the company was manufacturing between 750 and 800 pairs of sandals a day and expected to ramp up to 1000 pairs a day.

Plakkies retail at about R400 in the Netherlands.

Arnoud Rozendaal, the programme initiator, said the goal was to sell between 20000 and 35000 pairs in the first year.

Source: Business Day

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