Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role within the company?  

My name is Sue Lawther-Brown and I'm the General Manager at Tribal Textiles. I work closely with Kirste Selfe, the Managing Director, who recently relocated from Zambia to the U.K.

What inspired you to join Tribal Textiles, and what excites you most about starting your new role here?

Tribal Textiles has so much to commend it - gorgeous, ethically sourced, hand-made products, combined with a genuine social impact ethos and a track record of thirty years.  Add to that a brilliant team and the location in Mfuwe, South Luangwa and the question might be why wouldn't I want to work here?  

What’s your survival tip for someone moving to the middle of the bush for the first time? 

Think about your feet!  Life is tough on your feet here so bring a really good mosituriser for your heels and choose your footwear carefully. Blistered feet in forty degree heat is really miserable.  Also, be prepared to realise how much 'stuff' you just don't need.  When I was packing to move here, it was a really interesting exercise to think about what to leave behind and what would get valuable space in my suitcase. I chose to bring good quality cotton bed linen and feather pillows.  I figured I can cope with anything if I get a good night's sleep! 

Do you have a favourite collection, design, or product of Tribals? 

I'm still getting to know the all the products and designs, but I must admit I have soft spot for the new safari animals range.  I am currently furnishing my house, so I will have plenty of beautiful textiles to choose from. 

Our mission is built on ethical production, community empowerment, and conservation. which aspect of this mission are you most passionate about?

I'm passionate about all of those things because they are all interdependent, especially here in South Luangwa. Without the wildlife and the National Park, we would have no tourism industry, and there would be no work for local people. It's important that development through tourism benefits local people as much as possible, because they really are the guardians of this land and children especially hold the future in their hands. 

Customers often see the final product, but not the intricate process behind it. what’s something surprising about the way our textiles are made?

I think the three-metre long ovens are interesting, especially the way in which the fabrics are fed through very slowly to bake in the colour. I've been really impressed with the pride and the care that everyone takes in their work with Tribal Textiles. Many employees have been here for fifteen years or more, so there's a real sense of family and belonging in the workforce.