Halo Dish Covers was started by the team behind Spaza Store in Cape Town, South Africa, known for producing handy dish covers for covering and protecting food. As Nature’s Guardian Angel, Halo Dish Covers offers hope to South Africans through the creation of much needed employment opportunities and contributes towards freeing our environment of single-use plastic waste.
South Africa has an alarming unemployment rate of 29.1% (and this number is increasing) of which 58.2% is made up of young people under the age of 25. 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. The Halo team is working closely with our manufacturing partners, providing the training and equipment required to produce consistent, excellent quality in a sustainable and efficient way. As Halo grows, we are focused on expanding this initiative to create many happy working opportunities for more young South African workers.
Opportunities for artists
Twice a year Halo’s brand team brainstorms design themes for prints on our dish covers. Inspiration is taken from festive occasions, kitchen and dining trends, and our own imaginations. We then make a public ‘call out’ via colleges and universities, social media and our database of aspiring designers, inviting young designers to submit a one-page pitch on their chosen theme. These young professionals gain experience on pitching for work, making a presentation, and meeting a deadline. If their concept is chosen, they are required to build out the concept to fit the many different sizes and shapes of dish covers in the Halo range. There is communication along the way during which support is offered through the processes and photographs are taken for the launch of their collection. The artists are paid in one lump sum once their work is handed in. In this way they are able to make considerable advances in their careers by buying equipment, producing a body of work for an exhibition, or paying school fees. Besides work experience and renumeration, the artists also gain exposure, as well as the opportunity to tell their story, to share their work, and see how their art can be used to make the world a better place. The Butterflies & Dragonflies Series is the work of Nicole Peach. Learn more about her here.
