Capulana Bag Project

The bags have been doing GREAT!! We have sold a ton! Right now, one of the ladies working with bags is actually in Mozambique! Keep checking back on the website to see the latest.

27/09/10

With help from South Africans and Americans with the necessary know-how, the villagers in Mucatine, Mozambique installed irrigation systems. As a result, they were able to produce ruit and vegetables in a normally arid area. Now, they would like to take the food to the market. However, they need transportation to do it. Instead of asking churches in America to buy them a truck, they decided that they wanted to earn enough money to buy a truck. How are they doing this? Well, they are making Capulana Bags and trying to sell them! With the money, they will buy a truck. Then, they will be able to get the food from the fields, to the market! Thus using the money from that to help boost the economy! Great idea, right?

The people in Mozambique made these beautiful bags, and are now in the process of selling them. The outside is a cotton/cotton blend. The inside is a cotton blend or acetate solid color lining. And it's washable! It comes in a variety of colors and styles, so there is something to suit everyone.

A capulana is a piece of woven cotton or cotton/polyester blend that measures about 2 yards in length and is 44 inches wide. They are available in many different colors of prints and plaids. The women in Mozambique wear one wrapped around their waist and smartly tied on their side as a skirt over other clothing. It covers them down to mid calf of longer. The capulanas are also used for carrying babies, tying them securely on their backs. Women also use the cloth for carrying large items together, placing the load on their head as they walk. They are also used as blankets.