From Billboards to Beautiful Bags: Cynthia Thusi on Building Clo Collections & Empowering Women Through Sustainable Fash
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Join host Carlett on JustGospel's Community Connections for an inspiring conversation with Cynthia Thusi, founder of Clo Collections, a faith-driven social enterprise transforming waste into beautiful, functional bags while empowering women in Deep Sloot, Johannesburg.
Cynthia shares how her lifelong love of sewing evolved from a corporate career into a meaningful business that addresses environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities for women in her community. Clo Collections (named after the Sotho word for elephant, symbolizing strength) specializes in converting discarded materials like old billboards and mesh into high-quality recycled bags for personal and corporate use.
Key Discussion Points:
Transitioning from corporate life to social entrepreneurship in the green economy
The creative process of transforming billboards and waste materials into fashionable bags
Employing 1-10 women part-time based on order volume, sharing profits with the community
Product range: school bags, laptop bags, shopping bags, tote bags, and wipeable toiletry bags
Working with corporates on CSR projects and providing sustainable conference giveaways
Faith as the foundation of business decisions and daily operations
Special projects like creating memory bags for grandmothers taking their first flights
Five-year vision of becoming a globally recognized South African brand
Business Philosophy:
Cynthia emphasizes that buying from Clo Collections means "you're not just buying a bag, but you are actually making a difference in the community" as profits are shared among the women who help create each product.
"Start where you are, start with fear, start with nothing, start as young as you are, start as old as you are - but just get started. Your dreams are still valid." - Cynthia Thusi
Connect: 073-312-6837 or find Clo Collections on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X @clo_collections
Subscribe to JustGospel Radio and catch us live at www.justgospelradio.co.za
#JustGospel #CommunityConnections #SocialEntrepreneurship #SustainableFashion #WomenEmpowerment #GreenEconomy #CloCollections #DeepSloot
Cynthia shares how her lifelong love of sewing evolved from a corporate career into a meaningful business that addresses environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities for women in her community. Clo Collections (named after the Sotho word for elephant, symbolizing strength) specializes in converting discarded materials like old billboards and mesh into high-quality recycled bags for personal and corporate use.
Key Discussion Points:
Transitioning from corporate life to social entrepreneurship in the green economy
The creative process of transforming billboards and waste materials into fashionable bags
Employing 1-10 women part-time based on order volume, sharing profits with the community
Product range: school bags, laptop bags, shopping bags, tote bags, and wipeable toiletry bags
Working with corporates on CSR projects and providing sustainable conference giveaways
Faith as the foundation of business decisions and daily operations
Special projects like creating memory bags for grandmothers taking their first flights
Five-year vision of becoming a globally recognized South African brand
Business Philosophy:
Cynthia emphasizes that buying from Clo Collections means "you're not just buying a bag, but you are actually making a difference in the community" as profits are shared among the women who help create each product.
"Start where you are, start with fear, start with nothing, start as young as you are, start as old as you are - but just get started. Your dreams are still valid." - Cynthia Thusi
Connect: 073-312-6837 or find Clo Collections on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and X @clo_collections
Subscribe to JustGospel Radio and catch us live at www.justgospelradio.co.za
#JustGospel #CommunityConnections #SocialEntrepreneurship #SustainableFashion #WomenEmpowerment #GreenEconomy #CloCollections #DeepSloot
