Mzuzu-based fashion designer Bertha Chicco Mkandawire has come up with a creative way of waste management by, among others, recycling them into art products.
She collects wastes people throw away and recycle them into art-related materials such as face masks and learning materials for primary school learners.
The 24-year-old, who is a fashion designing student at the Phwezi Rural Polytechnic in Rumphi, uses her fashion designing skills to recycle various products using waste materials.
She has told ProjectM in an interview that she collects refuse from her school which is in turn sorted and processed into reusable products.
“Our school generates a lot of waste, especially our fashion designing department which I usually collect and recycle,” said Mkandawire.
Using materials such as leftover pieces of clothes, Mkandawire produces reusable sanitary pads, face masks and rags.
She also collects papers which she then processes into flip charts.
“I make sure that all the waste materials found at our school are put to good use, not only for my financial benefit, but also to help in environmental conservation.
Currently, Mkandawire is planning to launch a special campaign that will see girls surrounding her school being taught designing skills that are taking into account issues of environmental conservation.
Most of the products she produces are donated to schools and organisations that specialise in environmental conservation.
Waste Management Campaign, a grouping of youths from Rumphi, which recently received a donation from Mkandawire, commended her for fusing together fashion designing and environmental conservation.
Lilongwe-based renowned fashion designer Faith Kafera-Banda has since called on stakeholders to support what Mkandawire is doing, saying it is one way of fighting environmental degradation.
