Sue Lawther-Brown
Tribal Textiles
General Manager
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 made you take the leap to live in the heart of the African wilderness?
I was born in the Zambia capital, Lusaka and I've been away for almost fifty years - so this has felt like coming home. I feel incredibly lucky to be working in such a stunning location at the gates of the world famous South Luangwa National Park. I love all the wildlife here - I even find the bugs fascinating and there's no shortage of them!
SURVIVAL TIPS
Survival Tips
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!
the tribal ethos
Sustainability, Community & Conservation
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.
Sustainability, Community & Conservation
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.