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Accessories: Contemporary Crochet from Sapelle

Fiola Fairrari at Sapellé [Malawi]

Sapelle - Fiola Fairrari Accessoreis

How cold has it become, seemingly overnight… Caught unawares by the sudden change in weather, comes the scramble to find those hidden away scarves, jumpers, hats, tights, and even winter pjs in a bid to keep the biting cold at bay. As my mum said ‘I’d forgotten how cold it can get’ too right, and it is not even winter proper!

Helping to keep you warm online fashion and lifestyle boutique, Sapellé is currently retailing a collection of luxuriously soft, snuggly looking scarves and snoods crocheted and hand-knitted by Malawian-based social enterprise Fiola Fairrari, a Malawian social enterprise that employs vulnerable women within the community to create simple yet skillfully crafted fashion accessories for the local and international markets. Helping towards building sustainable incomes many of those producing the products are grandmothers, known locally as ‘Agogo’, many of whom are not only living with HIV but are so often responsible for several dependents at a time when they are the ones who should be being looked after.  

Sapelle - Fiola Fairrari Hand Knitted Alpaca Snood

Fiola Fairrari uses Alpaca yarn sourced from South America. Characterised by its soft silkiness thanks in part to long fibres, Alpaca is warmer than sheep’s wool and often more lightweight. The heaviness or lightness of the weight depends on the spinning process. A natural fibre said to be water-resistant and difficult to set alight, Alpaca is often recommended for those with skin sensitivities due to the fact that it contains no lanolin, unlike sheep’s wool, which is notorious for being prickly and itchy. Alpaca comes from the Alpaca, an animal traditionally found high up in the Andes, mountain range spanning the west coast of South America. Alpaca have been bred for their fibre for over a thousand years, first domesticated by the Inca of Peru, and due to its luxurious quality was used to make clothes for royalty. Alpaca are also found in Chile and Bolivia and are even bred in countries across the world.  

Sapelle - Fiola Fairrari Crochet Snood

Sapellé is an online boutique, based in the UK, that was started in 2012 by Malawian-born, Daphne Kasambala, who left a job in the City to bring to the marketplace her vision of stylish, well-made African inspired products that also make a difference to those who make them. The boutique’s specific focus on sourcing ethical and sustainable fashion and home decor means Sapellé only trades with businesses that employ fair trade, ethical and responsible principles, and sees the range of products on offer made with locally sourced, recycled, environmentally sustainable and organic materials and fabrics.

Sapelle - Fiola Fairrari Hand Knitted Alpaca Snood

Counteracting heavy bulky scarves, Fiola Fairrari accessories are just what you need for the season of layering and wrapping up warm; and the scarves are large enough to double up as a baby blanket, making them a thoughtful gift.

[Image credits: All images shown belong to Sapellé, and if copied and used elsewhere must be credited accordingly]

Additional information sourced from:
www.malpaca.com

Additional details:
Scarves and snoods priced at: £30-£40
For further information about Sapellé and to purchase visit: http://sapelle.com

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