Phumla Makhoba, a vibrant entrepreneur from South Africa, is joyfully tackling the housing challenges faced by communities in the global south. Her innovative spirit shines brightly through her creation, Texiboard, which ingeniously transforms clothing waste into a sustainable building material.
Texiboard is a remarkable product that marries textile fibers with lime cement, resulting in a durable and affordable solution for construction. This textured, tile-like material is crafted entirely from recycled resources, steering clear of traditional, emission-heavy materials such as wood and concrete.
Makhoba enthusiastically shares, “It can be used to make furniture, flooring, walls, or even your entire home.” This flexibility opens up a world of possibilities for those seeking safe and stable housing.
The journey to perfecting Texiboard has been a creative adventure for Makhoba and her design firm, Studio People, which has been dedicated to this mission since 2022. Early prototypes incorporated colorful cotton threads, and through diligent experimentation, they managed to create a solid panel that melds shredded textile fibers with natural lime cement.
With the staggering reality that only 1% of textiles are recycled globally, Makhoba’s endeavor is both timely and essential. Every year, 92 million tons of clothing waste are produced, and Texiboard not only addresses this issue but also aims to provide affordable housing—a necessity that only 20% of South Africans can currently afford.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Makhoba recalls witnessing the stark contrast between well-constructed buildings and those made from scraps. “I always wondered, why do some people get homes that last and others get homes that leak?” This question fuels her passion for creating homes that truly serve their inhabitants.
In a wonderful effort to share knowledge, Makhoba has made the Texiboard design an open-source resource. She and her team conduct workshops for local residents living in informal settlements, empowering them to build their own sustainable homes. “Just having a roof isn’t enough,” she emphasizes. “A real home should protect you from the weather, work for your daily life, and not fall apart in five years.”
The vision for Texiboard extends beyond mere construction; it encompasses a comprehensive theory of change. Studio People is actively forming partnerships and seeking funding to expand their operations, aiming to establish a sustainable supply chain for manufacturing and distributing Texiboards while helping to create affordable housing for those in need.
Makhoba envisions a future where the impact of Texiboard leads to inclusive waste management, the creation of green jobs, and a thriving market for sustainable housing. “Informal settlements can be transformed when we all work together,” she conveys on the Studio People website. Texiboard represents a seed of innovation that has the potential to revitalize trade jobs within the building industry.
While Texiboard is still being refined, the ultimate aspiration is to offer a weather-proof and cost-effective solution for housing, democratizing the building process for everyone. Studio People passionately states, “Our goal is to create an egalitarian and sustainable urban environment, helping shack dwellers and youth out of poverty.”
In this uplifting endeavor, Makhoba and her team empower individuals and businesses to co-create solutions to the pressing challenges of the housing crisis, unsustainable building practices, and unemployment—one board at a time.
