Maker of the Month

Again this month, we're shining the spotlight on people who make good products and add more good to the world. Each month we ask one of our makers the same 6 questions, and each month we learn something new. 

This month, we're featuring Julia Schaffer, founder and designer at Spaza Home Ware, makers of Halo Dish Covers. As a Canadian-born designer, Julia founded Spaza in Cape Town, South Africa in 2013. What began as a hand-knit kitchen cloth pattern Julia's grandmother sent her through the mail, grew into a collection of functional household and lifestyle products that could be made by women working from their homes. Julia focussed on eco-friendly alternatives to disposable plastic items and the uplifting of people, resulting in the development of Halo Dish Covers in 2020. Through Halo, Julia and her team of phenomenal women contribute toward freeing the environment of single-use plastic waste and offering hope to South Africans through the creation of much needed employment opportunities. As of 2022, South Africa has reached an alarming unemployment rate of 34.5%. Halo Dish Covers is currently working with, and uplifting, existing manufacturers and cooperatives that have facilities and seamstresses but do not have sufficient work to support their staff and members. Julia and her 98% all-female team believe in change, are relentless about improvement, and are constantly searching for new ways to improve the lives of young people in South Africa. She embodies our commitment to bringing you sustainable products by companies that care about their employees, the communities they work in, and the planet.