Lalela Scarf: Apparel with a Purpose

Do you care about art? Do you care about philanthropy? So do we. And so does Lalela. That is why they created the Lalela Scarf – a wearable marriage of art and philanthropy – apparel with a purpose.

About Lalela

Lalela is a non-profit organization that provides educational arts for at-risk youth. They are intent on sparking creative thinking and awakening the entrepreneurial spirit. Lalela’s arts curriculum and critical messaging component ignite imagination and teach children how to map and manifest their dreams and goals. This helps the learners to envision a different future for themselves and their communities. 

Every day after school, in the hours when children are most vulnerable to abuse of every kind, the Lalela team works to break the barriers of challenge. The children are taught from age 6 to develop the art of imagination. Lalela continues through grade 12 to connect the arts to everything important in a child’s life, from core academics to critical life skills.

The birth of Lalela Scarf

Sandy Tabatznik is the co-founder of Lalela. She experienced the spark of creative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit first hand when she realised that the solution to their fundraising needs lay in the very art created by their students.

Here was an opportunity to share the art of Lalela students with a broader audience while also eliminating the need for formal fundraising for Lalela.

In her search for a product to best display the students’ art, Sandy discovered that scarves provided an opportunity to show entire pieces of art at a large scale. They also appeal to both men and women.

The Range

Since the brand’s creation in 2011, Lalela Scarf has expanded its product range to include silk pocket squares, masks, leather bags and reusable shopper bags. There are also many more exciting innovations in the works.

Lalela Scarf’s signature though, remains their line of luxury scarves.

Ranging from cotton silk to cashmere modal, they release a line of scarves for every season.

“The scarves hold a special place in our hearts, as the size really highlights the brilliant works of our learners.” 

Each piece comes with a hang tag that gives information about the artist. The tags share their name, age, and a bit about their background, dreams and goals.

Sandy says: “Besides the excitement behind the success of this luxury brand, my favourite part of Lalela Scarf is how proud our learners feel when they see their art being worn around the world.” 

Heidi McCormack runs the South African region of Lalela Scarf. She is responsible for operations and distribution of the products nationally. Heidi says: ” I am passionate about the difference Lalela Scarf is making in the lives of children in communities across South Africa.”

To learn more about the work of Lalela, or to purchase a Lalela Scarf of your own, visit www.lalelascarf.co.za.