South Africa’s unemployment rate stands at about 23.5%, which roughly translates to 10 million people unemployed. This desperate challenge for South Africa was the overarching reason for Adri Schütz (45) to create Mielie. Mielie started in 2002, in Adri’s dining room and has since grown to a company that provides regular employment to 45 women and men in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
With their bold colours and strong, contemporary designs, Mielie products are a departure from traditional African craft to African chic. As far as is posible Mielie products are hand-made, using locally produced materials. The fabric of the Mielie range is reclaimed (woven from pre-consumer waste fabrics gathered from local factories), and the finishes (cotton thread, needles, genuine leather handles etc) are locally produced.

South Africa’s unemployment rate stands at about 23.5%, which roughly translates to 10 million people unemployed. This desperate challenge for South Africa was the overarching reason for Adri Schütz (45) to create Mielie. Mielie started in 2002, in Adri’s dining room and has since grown to a company that provides regular employment to 45 women and men in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
With their bold colours and strong, contemporary designs, Mielie products are a departure from traditional African craft to African chic. As far as is posible Mielie products are hand-made, using locally produced materials. The fabric of the Mielie range is reclaimed (woven from pre-consumer waste fabrics gathered from local factories), and the finishes (cotton thread, needles, genuine leather handles etc) are locally produced.