Last season’s revenue will allow MAL to open its 15th library near Marlboro Originals’ factory in the community of Salt River, in January. According to MAL, every garment is sourced and produced locally, which creates jobs and enhances lives at all levels across the community.
Schalit and his team have started collaborating with several designers, brands and retailers to create more ranges for the campaign. This includes ‘Chocs4good’ slabs, in collaboration with a top chocolatier; a range of animal-shaped bedside lamps, or ‘aniMALamps’; homeware range of totes, table runners and pillowcases called MALhuis; and earrings called BANG BANG.
"Purpose lies at the heart of every single MAL collaboration. We make a living by what we get, yet we make a life by what we give. This is a blueprint, if you will, for privilege to engage with poverty, for the haves to empower have-nots, to liberate a new way of life whereby giving back is not simply a patronising unsustainable charity or CSI, but more effectively and positively a hand up rather than a hand out," says Schalit.
Consumers can get MAL Foundation’s ‘Wear It Forward’ range at Marlboro Originals stores at the V&A Waterfront, Menlyn Park and Woodlands. The rest of the products will be on sale at the MAL Foundation’s new stand at the Oranjezicht City Farm-Market in Grainger Bay from Saturday, 15 December.
You can follow the MAL Foundation on Facebook or on Instagram.