member spotlight: building a local business from kanwerk
meet sarah jenkins, whose sustainable fashion startup grew from a kanwerk hot desk to a thriving garden route business employing 12 people.
Sarah Jenkins transformed a simple coworking desk at Kanwerk into Indigenous Threads - a thriving 12-employee sustainable fashion company that embodies authentic Garden Route values and community collaboration.
this is part of our ongoing series celebrating the entrepreneurs and creatives who make kanwerk their professional home.
meet sarah jenkins
eighteen months ago, sarah jenkins was working from her kitchen table in george, sketching sustainable fashion designs and wondering if her dream of creating ethically-made clothing could become reality.
today, her company indigenous threads employs twelve people and ships beautiful, locally-made garments across south africa.
the kanwerk connection
sarah joined kanwerk in early 2024 with just a hot desk membership and big ideas about sustainable fashion.
“i needed more than just space - i needed community,” sarah explains. “at kanwerk, i found other entrepreneurs who understood the challenges of building something from scratch.”
growth through collaboration
what started as informal coffee conversations became strategic partnerships through effective business networking george:
- collaboration with fellow member david’s marketing agency for brand development
- introduction to local textile suppliers through kanwerk’s business network
- mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs in our community
authentic local impact
indigenous threads embodies the values that make george special:
- all materials sourced within 200km of george
- traditional craftsmanship techniques preserved and celebrated
- living wages for all employees
- zero-waste manufacturing processes
advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
sarah’s top recommendations for new business owners:
start before you’re ready - “i waited too long thinking i needed everything perfect. sometimes you just have to begin.”
community over competition - “the other entrepreneurs at kanwerk became my greatest supporters, not competitors.”
stay authentic to your values - “don’t compromise on what matters to chase quick growth. sustainable success takes time.”
what’s next
indigenous threads is opening a flagship store in knysna this spring while maintaining their kanwerk workspace as their design and business headquarters.
“kanwerk will always be where the magic happens,” sarah says. “this is where i learned that building a business doesn’t mean building it alone.”
sarah’s story demonstrates that you absolutely can start and grow a successful business from a coworking space in george. indigenous threads joins other thriving local businesses - from sustainable fashion to local manufacturing - that embrace authentic garden route values and benefit from community support.
coworking spaces like kanwerk provide more than just workspace; they offer the community connections, strategic partnerships, local supplier introductions, and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs that create genuine business relationships and sustainable growth.
interested in joining kanwerk’s entrepreneurial community? book a tour and see how our collaborative environment can support your business goals.