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Two passions in one light-filled space.

Welcome to Living Jute and Half Cup — a place where a special kind of sustainable shopping meets caffeinated bliss in Cowandilla.

Living Jute

Owner and founder Rashed Kabir is living his dream, after kicking off Living Jute in 2021, to serve up sustainable accessories and home goods. Its mission isn’t just about selling cool stuff; it’s about providing work back to Rashed’s home of Bangladesh, where they’ve got their very own factory.

“I wanted to find a way to offer something back to Bangladesh and to my new home in South Australia at the same time. I also wanted to create that connection between the creator and the buyer. Our factory can create custom pieces, sharing updates with our customers via WhatsApp and Skype during the process,” says Rashed.

Image credit: Wayne Pearson

If you haven’t heard of jute before, it’s a versatile and eco-friendly natural fibre that can be woven in different ways to create beautiful products. On top of their jute products, they also produce both vegan and natural leather, incorporating these materials into their unique designs.

Need a plant hanger that screams, “I belong in your home”? Or a laptop bag that’s as stylish as it is functional? Perhaps a custom rug that matches your living room? Living Jute’s got you covered with their in-house creations that range from beautiful tableware and gift baskets, through to customised bags printed with your company’s logo — they can make between 100 to 1000 within just four weeks! Just head instore to see Rashed about placing your custom order.

Half Cup

One business was simply not enough for Rashed, who also has experience in the hospitality industry. He made space for another passion project and Half Cup was born — serving up takeaway coffee for those on the go, or dine-in options with plates of food that are as beautiful as they are delicious!

Image credit: Wayne Pearson

The cafe offers a menu created by Rashed and his head chef (and beloved wife) Samima Akther that changes every four months, ensuring you’ll always have something new to try. Local ingredients and seasonal produce shine on their menu, with exotic spices that come from one of Rashed’s friend’s secret recipes back home.

Some crowd pleasers include the Coconut and Crab served on top of a buttery croissant; the Avocado and Ricotta Waffles; and the Loaded Chicken Burger, complete with slabs of pineapple. For those with a sweet tooth, the star of the show is Samima’s phenomenal baking skills! If you haven’t tried her homemade goodies, you’re missing out on a slice of heaven.

Half Cup got its name from Rashed’s very clear vision, “I always knew that when I opened this cafe, I wanted it to be 50 percent about the food and drinks that we serve, and 50 percent about giving back to the community, offering them a space that feels welcoming and valuable.”

Image credit: Wayne Pearson

This drive to include the community wherever possible is evident in the ‘pay it forward wall’, where people in need can enjoy a pre-paid meal, as well as classes — knitting, art and more. These classes, funded by cafe patrons, are run in collaboration with the West Torrens Council and are open to all to enjoy. Just keep an eye on the Half Cup social media pages to see what’s coming up soon.

It doesn’t matter if you’re there for the plant hangers or the lattes, you’ll always leave with a smile, knowing that you’ve supported a business that’s making a difference both locally and globally. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 6:30am–2pm.

Instagram: @halfcupcafe | @livingjute

Website: halfcup.com.au | livingjute.com.au 

Address: 1/231 Sir Donald Bradman Drive, Cowandilla

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Millie Looker

Writer, Content Creator, Events Manager and Operations sensation, she’s the backbone to ensuring Adelady runs like clockwork.