”Snarewear is wearable art with a mission. The necklaces, bracelets, earrings and decorative pieces not only make a fashion statement, but a statement for conservation as well” –  Dale Lewis

With stockpiles of over 40,000 wire snares recovered from illegal hunters and poachers in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia, COMACO (Community Markets for Conservation) explored alternative uses for the snares. A Zambian traditional Jeweller, Misozi Kadewele, helped find a solution – turning the snares into jewellery, made by local women. The group designs and creates necklaces, bracelets, anklets and decorative pieces, using wires handpicked from a pile of snares, with seeds from local trees as beads.

As well as increasing income opportunities and food security for the group and the community at large, Snarewear has raised awareness on better livelihood skills as alternatives to poaching.