Last Sunday, in the segment called The Week That Was, I reported that Rooibos tea has made it big as a drink in the global giant Starbucks and is featured as an extremely popular Rooibos latte.

The global domination of Rooibos continues with an amazing story that started right here in Cape Town and is now the must-have fashion item in Paris.

The Zimbabwean-born, 33-year old mother from Hout Bay in Cape Town, Gracious Dube, has transformed the humble teabag into a sought-after fashion accessory in Paris.

Her designer purses were originally spotted at the V & A Waterfront by French Designer, Carine Khalil, while she was holidaying in South Africa. They’ve taken this unique product to Paris where it now sells for about 26 Euros.

To make her fashionable purses and bags, which are lined with silk, Dube starts off by drying and ironing about 50 Rooibos teabags. Once done, they are varnished and either glued or carefully stitched onto the silk.

Some purses are also decoratively painted to add to the unique look.

Gracious says she loves drinking Rooibos and that it was while she was drinking a cup that she came up with the idea of creating a purse from the tea bags. She did try other tea bags but the Rooibos tea bags were ideal. Not only did they give the purses a beautiful rich colour but they also tended to be stronger than other tea bags according to her.

Gracious Dube joined a company called Original T-Bag Designs when she arrived in Cape Town. One that was started as a social responsibility project by founder, Jill Heyes, to help impoverished women from Imizamo Yethu (an informal settlement in Hout Bay) to earn money by making unique arts and crafts from tea bags and boxes.

Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) said Dube’s products were exquisite. They are delighted to see the tea bags being upcycled and given a second life.

The concept of painting on or using tea bags in fashion is truly unique and forces artists to work on a canvas that is already imprinted with odd colours and textures.

Gracious Dube has also been commissioned to make lampshades and baskets which are equally big sellers.

This story encompasses so many things I love. It’s rags-to-riches, it’s creative, it’s about recycling and it’s building lives and a community.

Well done to Gracious Dube and Original Tea Bag Designs. You’ll have to excuse me now. I’m off to have a cup of tea.

One out of every four women in South Africa find themselves in an abusive relationship, and we as a nation need to end this. That was the message at the 1000 Women Trust Initiative flagship event on Thursday 10 May in front of a capacity crowd at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

All tickets were sold out.

South African photographer Karin Schermbrucker who spent many years abroad documenting the lives of war refugees and especially women, delivered the keynote-address. Schermbrucker encouraged women to press on courageously in South Africa. “I will not be intimidated, discouraged or dissuaded from standing up for the rights of those who suffer injustice. I will not fear, in fact, we have an even greater resolve to speak up for those who cannot do so,” she said.

“My standing up here today is testimony to many of the courageous woman in my life who have helped me find my voice and have always called me to more – women who have fought for justice and believed that we can and should help change the lives of women all over the world,” Schermbrucker added.

She quoted the famous photographer Annie Griffiths of the National Geographic, who said: “When faced with the sheer magnitude of global need, most of us feel completely overwhelmed. How can we possibly make a difference? But when each of us can search inside ourselves for a little acorn of time or passion or ability, and find creative ways to offer that gift, then a forest begins to grow.”

A candle was lit to commemorate the lives of women who lost their lives through gender violence.

During a three-minute video clip that was showed at the lunch, the challenges we face in South Africa were highlighted as a major problem. One that is the cause of women losing their lives in our country right now.

Guests were invited to bring toiletries, soft toys and tin food for a number of shelters. This year, these shelters are the beneficiaries and the 1000 Women Trust is working with a number of new ones.

During the event several helpline numbers were also shared and include the following:

1. Tears helpline: *134*7355#
2. GBV national hotline: Dial *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone and a social worker will call back. They are available Monday to Sunday, 24 hours a day.