Time For South Africans To Go Mal For New ‘Wear It Forward’ Campaign

Making a difference to needy South Africans through creativity? You’ve got to be crazy. More accurately, you’ve got to be MAL. Just ask Mike Schalit, co-founder of ad agency Net#work BBDO , now co-steering it’s non-profit MAL Foundation into exciting new waters, as it embarks on a new range of madcap projects designed to plough back into disadvantaged communities.MAL – for Make a Living. Make a Life. – has just unveiled Season 2 of its ‘Wear It Forward’ range of Tees and Caps with Marlboro Originals, and they’re already flying off the shelves. Proceeds go to MakeAnotherLibrary in underprivileged schools –  already last season’s

Revenue has powered MAL towards opening its 15th library, near Marlboro Originals’ factory in the community of Salt River, in January.

Adding to the social benefit is the fact that every garment is sourced and produced locally, creating jobs and enhancing lives at all levels across the community.

But Schalit and his MAL team aren’t stopping there. They’ve started collaborating with several designers, brands and retailers to create more funky ranges for good. Coming in time for Christmas: ‘Chocs4good’ slabs, in collaboration with a top chocolatier; a range of cute animal-shaped bedside lamps, ‘aniMALamps’; a homewear range of totes, table runners and pillowcases aptly call 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 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.

You 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 goodies will be on sale at the MAL Foundation’s new stand at the popular Oranjezicht City Farm-Market in Grainger Bay from !5^th Dec.

This Christmas, go a bit MAL with your gift-giving. The non-profit MAL Foundation works with designers, brands and retailers to create funky ranges for good. How good? They’re about to open their 15th township library in January. 1. Try their stunning ‘Wear It Forward’ range of Tees and Caps, from Marlboro Originals. 2. Sweet tooth? ‘Chocs4good’ slabs, in collaboration with a top chocolatier. 3. Animal-shaped bedside lamps, ‘aniMALamps’. You know you want to. 4. The coolest homewear range of totes, table runners and pillowcases from MALhuis. 5. Earrings called BANG BANG. Oooh.