Who is Tikiwe® Cork Bags?

Tikiwe® is Irene Kirchhoff. Born on a Sunday in May in Munich. That says a lot about me. The Taurus in me loves enjoyment. The Munich woman in me loves elegance. The Bavarian in me loves coziness.

Even as a child, I was very fond of colors, shapes, and beautiful things. Enameling, silversmithing, designing, crafting – that was my world. I later turned this passion into my profession and completed an apprenticeship in the watch and jewelry industry. I remained loyal to "my" industry for many years, first in sales and later in distribution, with great enthusiasm.

Finding meaning in what I was doing became increasingly difficult, as I could no longer ignore the exploitation of people and the environment. The collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh marked a turning point in my life. From that moment on, it became really hard for me to continue my job. Until I discovered cork and put all my eggs in one basket.

Now I can once again pursue my passion for colors, shapes, and beautiful things with enthusiasm. Cork forests make a great contribution to a healthy environment. Cork is fundamentally a sustainable product. People are paid fairly.

I now pass on this enthusiasm to my customers with a clear conscience. I value sustainably produced goods. I love beautiful, high-quality items.

What does Tikiwe® actually mean?

My bags needed a name that expresses what I feel, what I wish for. A name that stands for my values and for the future. Since no one can pronounce Fwwf correctly, something better was needed.

Ewigkeit (Eternity). A beautiful word! E W I G K E I T. That's exactly what it should be. I wish for a beautiful future for humans and animals. And that means forever. I wish that the air, water, fields, and forests become clean again and stay that way. And that means forever. I wish that life for humans and animals is no longer characterized by fear, pain, and early death. And that means forever. So I named my label Tikiwe®. That's "Ewigkeit" spelled backward with 2 letters removed.

I can't save the world alone. But I can contribute. This contribution is colorful, beautiful, and sustainable for eternity.

Thank you for your interest in Tikiwe® cork bags.