Rural workshop turns waste into opportunity
From a rural workshop in Shiyalongubo, Nick and Nichole Nyalungu are proving that discarded materials can become internationally recognised products while creating jobs and opportunities in the Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains.
What some people see as rubbish, Nick and Nichole Nyalungu see as the beginning of a new story. From their workshop in the quiet rural community of Shiyalongubo, nestled in the Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains, the husband-and-wife team behind Nic & Nic are transforming discarded materials into handcrafted bags, accessories and corporate gifts that are finding homes not only across South Africa, but also in Europe and the United States.
Nick is originally from Kabokweni and Nicole from Soshanguve. The couple has two children, Afrika (15) and Kenya (13). After living in different parts of the country, the family settled in Shiyalongubo in 2020, where they purchased land and established both their home and workshop. Today the surrounding mountains, the nearby dam and the peaceful rural setting have become inseparable from the identity of the business.
The business, founded in 2016, began with a simple but powerful idea: give waste a second life. "We saw beauty and value in materials that most people simply throw away," the couple explained. "Instead of allowing tyre inner tubes to end up in landfills or being burned, we clean them, cut them and transform them into useful products."
That original concept has since grown far beyond tyre inner tubes. Today Nic & Nic also repurposes retired advertising banners, gazebos, billboards, pull-up banners and other promotional materials, creating everything from tote bags and laptop sleeves to travel bags, conference items and customised corporate gifts.
For the Nyalungus, however, the products are only part of the story. Their guiding philosophy is built around three simple principles: People. Planet. Profit.
People come first because the business focuses on creating employment, developing practical skills and providing opportunities within the local community. Planet reflects the company's commitment to reducing waste through creative reuse, while Profit ensures the business remains sustainable enough to continue creating long-term impact.
Rather than seeing their rural location as a disadvantage, the couple believe it demonstrates that innovation and quality manufacturing are not confined to major cities. "We believe meaningful design, manufacturing and business can grow from places like this," they said.
The workshop currently employs six people from Shiyalongubo and neighbouring rural communities. Many employees arrive with little or no experience and receive hands-on training in every stage of production, including sorting, cleaning, cutting, sewing, finishing, quality control and packaging.
The couple are particularly passionate about inspiring young girls and boys to see entrepreneurship and practical skills as achievable career paths. "We want young people to know that opportunity does not only exist in big cities. It can be created right here in rural communities."
Over nearly a decade, the business has produced more than 6 500 handcrafted items while steadily expanding its reach. The business now exports products to countries including Germany, Belgium, Austria and the United States and has participated in programmes designed to prepare South African businesses for international markets.
Its growth has also attracted significant recognition. Nic & Nic received support through the SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards in 2023, won the Mpumalanga Green Innovation Challenge in 2024, earned the Green Excellence Award at the KLBCT Awards in 2025, was named a finalist in the TWYG sustainable design awards the same year and most recently won the Hollywoodbets Bambelela Business Awards in 2026.
The company has also installed solar power at its workshop, it has just launched their website, and has been invited to explore participation in London Fashion Week, highlighting the growing international interest in its approach to sustainable design.
Looking ahead, the Nyalungus have ambitious plans. They hope to expand their workforce from six to 20 employees, grow online and export sales, work with more organisations looking for environmentally responsible corporate gifting solutions and continue repurposing retired promotional materials that might otherwise become waste.
Their vision extends beyond manufacturing. Under the planned Nyalungu Afrikan Retreat, the family hopes to develop an eco-tourism destination where visitors can experience the workshop, learn about circular design, enjoy the natural beauty of the Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountains and connect with the story behind each product.
Nic and Nic
For Nick and Nichole, success is measured by more than sales figures. Their long-term dream is to establish Nic & Nic as a recognised South African circular design brand that demonstrates how discarded materials can become valuable products while creating jobs, developing skills and proving that rural communities have the potential to build businesses with both national and international impact.
From a quiet corner of the De Kaap Valley, their story is showing that innovation does not always begin in large factories or busy cities. Sometimes it starts with a discarded tyre tube, a sewing machine and the determination to see possibility where others see waste. For more information visit the website www.nicandnic.co.za or contact / WhatsApp them on +27 60 377 1265 or email info@nicandnic.co.za.
Mariana Balt
Liz Thorne
Naomi Roebert
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