2019: The Year in Review
One In A Mill
In 2019, our one-of-a-kind weaving mill turned two. Based on the Garden Route in Plettenberg Bay, our mill forms the heartbeat of Mungo – a place which evidences our commitment to weaving with integrity and full transparency.
This year our family got also bigger – we welcomed 14 new staff members to Mungo (and 2 new babies), growing our team to over 80 people.
2019 also saw the next evolution of our CSR, MOVE. From the start of the financial year, we pledged 1% of our annual turnover to projects and causes that support the social development, and environmental upliftment, of the the Plettenberg Bay community. Through MOVE we also host staff development workshops and courses. Read more about our self-care and sewing workshops, or the #goodthymes we had at our permaculture course.
New On The Shelf
Mungo Goes Organic
In 2019 we started the process of shifting our yarn to organic sources. The first step was to go in search of the world’s finest organic yarn, from which we wove our first-ever organic towel: the Aegean. Read more about why we believe in this towel, and how it came to be, here.
A Kikoi For a Cause
Every year we invite students from The Crags Primary School to attend a tour and workshop at our mill. Under the guidance of our designer, Lenore, each student designs their own kikoi colourway. From the simulations, a winning design is chosen, put into production at our mill and sold in aid of the Kids of Kurland foundation. See the 2019 ‘Kids of Kurland Kikoi’ here.
Gimme That Summer Feeling
This year we refreshed our Summer Towel range with two new colourways: Lemon and Mint. Light, absorbent and just in time for summer.
It’s All Hood
We launched a smaller, hooded version of our full-size Summer Towel – perfect for little humans.
Selvedge Gets A Refresh
Our pure linen Selvedge Serviettes are now available in 12 different colourways. Avoid confusion at the table by assigning each guest a different colourway. Shop the full set for a special price.
Mungo Meets the World
We Popped Up to Say Hello in Charleston
This year we opened our first US store in South Carolina. Turns out our small store with big dreams was more of a pop-up… and we had to close our doors. But the good news is that our US online store is going strong – and stock of our full range will soon be added here.
2019 Trade Shows
This year we attended two international trade shows – Top Drawer and NYNOW. You can read more about some of Lilah’s favourites finds at NYNOW here.
Textile Exchange
We want our commitment to sustainability to reflect itself in the decisions that we make – filtered through from our fibres to the finished products. That’s why we shipped off our MD, Dax Holding, to the 2019 Textile Exchange Conference – to connect with industry experts and collect innovative ideas for the future of sustainable textile design.
Best Of The Web
Best-Selling Product
Word on the web is that our Itawuli was the best-selling product for 2019. With it’s characteristic geometric design and bright hues, this towel has become an icon – a signature of our flat weave range.
Mungo custom Kamma Linen #broketheinternet on our Instagram account (well…almost).
Best of the Blog
According to our readers, our most popular blogs from 2019 were Introducing the Vrou-Vrou and What’s in a Name? The Story Behind ‘Mungo’.
2019 #mungotowelstory
Every month we ask our followers to submit pictures of their Mungo towel adventure using #mungotowelstory – with the winning submission standing a chance to win an R800 Mungo voucher. Here are some of our favourites from 2019.
Thank You
2019 has been another busy year at Mungo – and we’ve already got some exciting things in the pipeline for 2020. For now, we’d like to extend a big thank you for your support, and wish you all a happy holidays. Here’s looking at you, 2020.
