About 'While Shepherds Watched'
My name is Lucy Jiwa, and I am the founder and owner of While Shepherds Watched. Until this year I sewed all of the costumes sold on this site. There are some changes this year though, as I have now branched out into selling Fair Trade costumes as well (see below).
As a mother to two children, I well remember the anxiety of a letter coming home from school, requiring costumes for their imminent Nativity Plays. That first year (2004) I quickly ran a costume up for my daughter, and also for a friend of hers. By the second year, word had got around the playground that I could make costumes and I was asked to make several Shepherds, three Sheep and a Cow. I enjoyed sewing them so much I made a few extra and sold them on eBay. By 2006, to cope with the extra demand, I launched the 'While Shepherds Watched' website.
Each year since, I have made more and more costumes and sold them all. Up until 2009 all of the costumes were designed and sewn at home by myself, at my kitchen table. I have always believed in using beautiful, quality fabrics.
As a mother I believe I know from first-hand experience what children (and parents) want from their costumes. Parents want traditional nativity styles, with a touch of individuality, coupled with long-lasting quality and ease of care. Children want to be comfortable, and to have something that is easy to get into, and out of. I think that all of my costumes satisfy these criteria, and I hope you agree!
Fair Trade Costumes
In Summer 2009 whilst investigating fabric suppliers ready for Christmas I came across Bishopston Trading Company. As well as their own range of clothes, they supply beautiful Fair trade fabric, woven from organically grown cotton. This year I am delighted to have acquired a quantity of this Fair trade fabric to make my own costumes from. I have also commissioned their partners in India to tailor some of the tunics for my costumes from Fairtrade certified cotton.
The tailors used are paid above average wages, work in clean modern buildings and have allowance for healthcare, secure
employment, provident fund, gratuity, sickness benefit and a creche.
Information on Bishopston Trading Company's Fair Trade ethics.
All of the head dresses have been made in the U.K., and each costume clearly states whether the tunic is made of Fairtrade organic cotton or not, and whether it has been made in India, or the U.K.
Fairtrade Certified Cotton
The Fairtrade Certification Mark is an independent guarantee that the cotton in a product which carries the Mark has been certified in accordance with international Fairtrade standards. The purchase of products made with Fairtrade Certified Cotton ensures small-scale farmers in developing countries receive both a fair price and additional Fairtrade Premium for social, economic and environmental projects. For more information on Fairtrade cotton please visit the Fairtrade Foundation Website.
Article in Candis Magazine, December 2008
In 2008 I was interviewed by Maria Whittaker for Candis magazine, and featured in an article about Christmas businesses. Click on the logo to open the article as a PDF file (you will need a suitable viewer installed in order to open this).
