In South Africa, one will hear the catch phrase, "Local is lekker!" a lot. (Lekker, an afrikaans word meaning Good, Enjoyable) I (=Kim) have focused on two socially aware stores that have used locals to create typically South African products. In the last Cape Town report for Bloesem, Heather Moore of Skinny laminx showed us around the city centre, so I decided to venture a little further out of the city.
A great centre for local arts and crafts is the Montebello Design Centre on Newlands Avenue. Mielie is one of the shops there empowering +- 50 people (mostly women) from underprivileged areas creating beautiful hand made products such as these bags out of recyclable materials.
You can read Adri's blog for more information. Another socially aware store that is easy to get your hands on product, as it's an online store, is Babazeka. Knysna based Sarah of Babazeka is helping groups like The Women of Vision by giving them some direction and advice as to what sells and how to market themselves etc. Here are some of their bags below.
Go to Babazeka to find more great product like these below and read their blog for more info. The one thing I love about Babazeka is that not only are they educating and helping local suppliers, but their readers too.
Next venturing more towards shopping centres and fashion folk, is another Proudly South African Store called The Space. The Space houses South African Fashion Designers, one of them being well know S.A designer Colleen Eitzen. Here are some pics of the store below.
Blooms are in this summer and I just love this wire protea brooch.
love the quirky home wear nicknack's that can be found. There are some great gifts to be discovered here.
On to one of my favourite stores, a local store but with more of a French Flare is L' Orangerie. This little store in Newlands, Kildare Rd holds many a ristic-chic kitchen, bath or lounge "Must have".
These champagne flutes are a reason in themselves to celebrate! Such striking elegance. 
I have given and received some of these beautiful soaps in wonderful fragrances like spice, lavender and green tea.
This rounds up some of my favourite S.A shops and I hope you do give them a visit if you are in South Africa.
* * * Kim from Kim Gray