From riches to peace of spirit is in the bag
Nic noticed the stacks of by-product tyre inner tubes in one corner of the depot and the idea to make bags from the tubes sparked.
From living the high life in the city, good jobs and a secure future together, Nick Nyalungu and his wife Nicole realised it was time to go back to their roots.
Connecting with nature and the spirit of humanity inspired them, and the trendy Nick & Nichol’s vegan leather accessories business was founded in 2016. Their artisanal range of products includes handbags, tote bags, travel bags and stationery bags, and is handmade from upcycled car and truck tube tyre inners.
With a global movement to a vegan diet, few people are aware of the direct impact vegan leathers can make – especially those upcycled from disused car and truck tube inners that would otherwise become part of landfills.
Resigning from his job and starting the business with two young children in tow, was not plain sailing. Nick met with childhood friend Sizwe Khumalo, still living in KaBokweni, who had a depot where he recycles tyres (the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa).
Nic noticed the stacks of by-product tyre inner tubes in one corner of the depot and the idea to make bags from the tubes sparked.
Nick bought a patching needle and waxed string and made his first bag that night, and drove to Gauteng to show Nicole, who was still in the corporate world and holding the family finances together. Armed only with faith in her husband’s idea, she too resigned, and they moved to Mpumalanga.
The Nyalungu family moved in with a family they did not know, who kindly offered them (all four of them) a single room, in their already small home in Bushbuckridge. “We began to tap into the broader community and met Ethne Cameron, a White River local, who liked our idea, and she linked us to Trevor Selke, owner of Selke Bags. Trevor mentored us, offered us the use of his factory and shared his list of suppliers,” Nick remembered. “We knew what we needed but could not afford the equipment, but Andrew Mashile, owner of Leather Works in Bushbuckridge, offered the use of his factory and taught us to further hone our skills.”
Three years later, through the help of family, friends, locals and even tourists whom they met along the way, Nick & Nichol’s has the necessary equipment and a very snazzy shop at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre.
“Life truly conspires for success, and we would love to replicate the concept of what we’re doing in other parts of Africa,” added Nicole.
