Family, Friends and Fabric Behind South Africa’s In-Demand Binny Bags
Binny Bags is one of South Africa’s many beautiful small businesses which is starting to flourish abroad. And it’s beautiful, not only because the bags are gorgeous, but because the story behind it – of family and friendship – is wonderful too. Megan Beswick – who happens to be cricketer David Miller’s (proud) aunt – […]
Binny Bags is one of South Africa’s many beautiful small businesses which is starting to flourish abroad. And it’s beautiful, not only because the bags are gorgeous, but because the story behind it – of family and friendship – is wonderful too.
Megan Beswick – who happens to be cricketer David Miller’s (proud) aunt – was inspired by her grandmother Binny to start her business… and urged on by her (proud) sons to keep going.
It all started from her dining room table in Port Elizabeth, in February… using her old Contessa “Noah’s Ark” sewing machine which she had received more than a couple of decades ago, on her 18th birthday!
“I had some beautiful upholstery fabric belonging to my grandmother, that I kept,” says Megan. “It was a little off-cut that she had her lounge suite upholstered in… the piece of fabric is about 60 years old.”
With that fabric, Megan managed to make a weekend Bag, the “very very first Binny Bag”, and with the left-overs she made a Tote. (See picture below.)
“The bags come with pretty and different inner lining and pockets, magnetic poppers and leather straps… and I use small local businesses for all my fabric; and try very hard to only do one-of-a-kind Binny Bags,” says Megan.
She does all the sewing herself and has only just recently purchased an electronic industrial machine.
Megan says: “I was really encouraged, and for lack of a better word – pushed and shoved – by my three sons who kept saying: ‘you can do this mum, just go for it!'”
Her youngest son Nick (23) works in media and “got me cracking on social media”. That’s the main platform she uses to sell, although she is in the process of setting up a website with a basic online store.
Megan’s bags have been such a success that orders are starting to come in from overseas.
“It’s amazing how small the world is with technology,” says Megan. “I have had such wonderful support from family and old school friends living in Australia and abroad!
“I would love Binny Bags to go world wide. I think my grandmother would be so so chuffed to know she was the inspiration behind this little South African home grown business. She had a quick wit, style and charisma that I so loved!!
The Binny Bags range now includes Totes, Pack packs, Student bags and laptop sleeves, which all capture the free spirit and imagination of Megan… who makes each bag personally with “lots of love”.
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