About 'While Shepherds Watched'
My name is Lucy Jiwa, and I am the founder and owner of While Shepherds Watched. The aim of my business has always been to provide beautiful, individual nativity costumes to help stressed parents who need to provide a costume at short notice!
When I first started this business I sewed all of the costumes sold on this site. They were such a success as people liked buying 'handmade' costumes, even if they hadn't been made with 'their' hands! In 2009 I couldn't keep up with demand and trialled selling some ethically produced costumes. They were such a hit I now import all of the costumes I sell. They are all made from Organic Fairtrade Certified Cotton and are so beautifully made I don't feel guilty about stopping sewing myself! In fact I feel very happy to be supporting such talented weavers and seamstresses. More information here about where the fabric and costumes come from.
How did this all start?
As a mother to two children, I well remember the anxiety of the letters coming home from school requiring costumes, usually at short notice, for their imminent Nativity Plays. My daughter's first school Nativity Play required her to be a "busy person" and wear her usual winter coat, so that wasn't too tricky! By Year 1 play though she was promoted to "Shepherd 5", so a real costume had to be provided. That year (2004) I quickly ran a costume up for my daughter, and also for a friend of hers. By the next 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.
What makes your costumes so special?
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! None of my costumes have any fastenings - no buttons, velcro or zips - which means they are easy for your child to get on and off by themselves which can be essential in a busy production.
The Move to 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.
In 2009 I was delighted to use some of their Fair trade fabric to make my own costumes from, and I also commissioned their partners in India to tailor some of the tunics for my costumes from Fairtrade certified cotton. In 2010 I hung up my sewing machine and commissioned them to make all of the costumes I sell, as I was so delighted with the quality of the costumes they had supplied.
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.
The costumes with head dresses are supplied with a simple adjustable elastic head band. The elastic head bands aren't Fairtrade certified.
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).
