Hello Tribal Textiles followers, this month's blog post is slightly different, with me, a new author. My name is Daisy and I'm the new intern at Tribal Textiles. I am going to introduce myself and tell you what I’ve been up to in my first month so far. 

Since I first arrived it really has been a whirlwind of excitement and new experiences. From meeting and working alongside the incredible Tribal team to exploring the South Luangwa National Park, right on my doorstep. It has been an unforgettable experience. 

My internship is 3.5 months long, and I can’t believe how fast it’s going already! I have also been living and working with Honor, the other intern, who has been great fun; there really is never a dull moment. Honor was able to show me around town of Mfuwe and most importantly introduce me to everyone.

I first discovered Tribal Textiles because my parents were volunteering for Project Luangwa, which is also based in Mfuwe just opposite the Tribal Textiles shop. They were teaching and living here for 3 months before I arrived. Luckily for me, they were able to get me in contact with Kirstie, the Managing Director of Tribal Textiles, who was on the lookout for someone new. The timings worked perfectly as I was in the process of applying for internships for my placement year at university. I’m currently studying Fashion Textiles in Bristol, UK and decided to take my 3 ^rd  year out to gain industry experience and in the hope of working abroad. 

For me, the main factor that I took into consideration when applying for internships, was whether the brands ethos aligned with mine. I knew that I wanted to work for a company that had sustainability at the core of its values. Tribal Textiles not only works to create sustainable impact, but they go beyond fair wages and reinvest each purchase in community strengthening initiatives and support local wildlife conservation; these are just a few of the factors that really appealed to me. 

Once everything was confirmed I was so excited to work for Tribal Textiles and not only agree with the purpose of the brand but actually enjoy the work I was doing as well. I am also so grateful for this opportunity to be able to move to Zambia and experience a completely different culture. Although the prospect was slightly daunting, I did feel prepared, because I’d heard all my parents' stories and how incredible this area of the world is. I’d always hoped to work abroad, and briefly looked into it but never thought it would come into reality; living here and the travelling aspect is an amazing bonus. 

In my first week, one of the things that stood out to me at the workshop was that the production and office were in the same space. I feel like this is unique and creates an open and friendly atmosphere, meaning the different departments can work seamlessly together, providing effective communication. My first task as ‘Production and Digital Marketing Intern’ was to organize all the screens used for screen printing and assess which ones needed clearing or re-exposing. This was to make space for exciting, new screen print designs. I also found this process useful for me to start learning all the different Tribal Textiles designs.

Then I moved into production and was taught the different methods and skills used; I started with Starching, which takes years of practice to perfect; it was much more difficult than I expected to trace the designs onto the fabric. Afterwards I spent a lot of time painting and was able to witness the teamwork and friendships around me as well as experiencing the positive atmosphere in the workshop. 

Once the newly cleaned screens were ready, I began hand drawing Jen's (Design and Marketing Manager) new designs onto the clear plastic that is used to expose the ink onto the screen like a stencil. This was time-consuming but I found it therapeutic and was amazing to see the screens once they were all finished and feel like I'd contributed something within production.

I feel like I couldn't put into words what living in Mfuwe is like. It has been amazing and I really didn't know what to expect when I arrived here. Living so close to the South Luangwa Park has been incredible and being able to go and see the wildlife and stunning landscape of Zambia. It is also so inspiring to be able to witness the impact that Tribal Textiles has on the local community, supporting The Malimba School and Conservation South Luangwa, among many others.

Alongside working in production, one day a week I’m at the Tribal Textiles shop. I help out on the day we have G Adventure, a large tourist bus, visits us for an art safari workshop and lunch at the cafe. We give them a tour and a demonstration of the production process before they can get stuck into painting their pieces that are already starched. Being in the shop and assisting with visual merchandising has helped me to learn more about Tribal Textiles, the designs and everything we do for the local community and surrounding area. 

The way you as a sustainable shopper can help this community is through purchasing our Tribal Textiles products. Especially through purchasing our Malimba tea towels where 100% of the profit is donated to the schools foundation. These tea towels were made in direct collaboration with the Children at Malimba who drew the animals featured on the tea towels. Moreover, throughout our season a portion of profit is reinvested into community initiatives.

To end today's blog we cannot stress enough the importance of each and every single purchase at Tribal Textiles. Your support is so vital to continuing and expanding the essential work of Tribal Textiles within our community. To make more dreams come true visit: www.tribaltextiles.co.zm Thank You From Tribal Textiles and The Malimba School.