Since launching their sustainable homewares business in 2016, entrepreneurial sister-duo Mo and Michelle Mokone have built an incredible company praised for their innovative, sustainable twists on essential products while lifting up the community in their hometown of Pretoria. Mo's Crib products are sought-after in top department stores such as Woolworth's and five-star resorts throughout South Africa - and during the pandemic, the entrepreneurs doubled down on their goal to enter into the U.S. market - successfully inking deals with several prominent retailers - including Crate & Barrel which will officially launch online and in-stores later this month.
Their best-selling line is repurposed with a purpose - The Mo's Crib PVC Collection includes stylish baskets and planters made from reclaimed PVC water pipes, each individually handpicked and collected from landfills and construction sites in Africa where they would otherwise contribute to the growing issue of PVC plastic pollution. PVC is the third most produced plastic in the world, but under 1% of PVC is actually recycled. Through a unique patent-pending and safe manufacturing process, Mo's artisans manipulate reclaimed PVC into thin strips that are neatly woven over the course of 4-7+ hours to create ultra-durable, washable, bug-resistant structures for inside and outside the home. The PVC Collection has the same look and soft touch as a classic woven grass basket, with 5x the durability.
In addition to protecting the natural environment they duo were raised in; Mo and Michelle are incredibly committed to the women in their community. The female artisans who hand make all of Mo's Crib's products are provided with fair wages, housing, hot meals, transportation, in-house healthcare and wellness check-ups, and skills training including English language lessons
