Durban entrepreneur Arthur Limbouris is done with watching the horrors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on television. Like most people, Limbouris is aghast at the war and deeply affected by the violence.
But the outspoken Durban businessman has directed his fury towards Russian President Vladimir Putin as meaningfully as he can.
He’s on a mission to help Ukrainians.
“You either sit on the sidelines and abstain or you do something.”
Limbouris has started creating a mechanism to help, an initiative he hopes will garner the support of others.
Limbouris, who owns Durban headquartered clothing company FlyersUnion, has manufactured 2000 T-shirts emblazoned with the words “F-ck Putin”. He is selling them online and on consignment in “cool stores” and coffee shops.
All the proceeds will go to refugee and animal shelters in Ukraine.
“Even if the war ends soon they will still need assistance.”
Limbouris boasts a lifetime in the clothing industry. He has a reputation for speaking his mind and created the FlyersUnion brand in 2020.
“The experiences I have had have strengthened my resolve. I have strong beliefs. You need to stand up and be counted.”
In 2015 Limbouris successfully sued the eThekwini Municipality for its failure to clean the pavements outside his Stamford Hill offices. Later he protested state capture by hanging a monstrous banner from the building.
Limbouris said he was moved to help citizens of Ukraine because: “Putin is evil. I can’t sit by while this war unfolds. Families are being torn apart and people are fleeing their homes.”
Limbouris has pledged to donate his own money and all of the proceeds of the T-shirts sales to Ukrainian war victims.
“I can do my bit, but I need other expertise. It would also be great if a PR company could join me to get the word out.
“I can respond to this horror in my own way. I have some resources and I can leverage some of our suppliers, but assistance would be terrific. I had a chat with Dr Imtiaz Sooliman from the Gift of the Givers and he has offered to assist in the distribution and spend of the donations in Ukraine. That organisation rocks and has huge credibility. They are already active in the country.
“I will be calling on my friends and business associates to contribute. Craig Knot from Liquid Ink has offered to do the printing of the T-shirts for free. If everyone can contribute something we can achieve great things collectively. We need a mechanism for action. We need to do what we can. I run my business on principle. It means taking a stand. Putin is a madman. If everyone does something we can make a difference.
“I can’t comprehend the hell the Ukrainians are going through. But I know many South Africans will respond because they can put themselves in the shoes of the Ukrainians.
“People rallied against apartheid because it was the right thing to do. We rally against corruption, poverty and service delivery failure because it is the right thing to do. People from across the racial, political, religious divide rallied against Covid and the unrest because it was the right thing to do.
“Helping the people of Ukraine now is the right thing to do.”
Limbouris is among a growing number of people who are trying to take concrete steps to help Ukrainian war victims.
When Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina thrashed her Russian opponent Anastasia Potapova in the Monterey Open she pledged her almost R500 000 winnings to the Ukrainian Army.
Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds reportedly donated R15-million to help Ukraine’s three million war refugees. As have Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. According to Newsweek, UK author JK Rowling has donated R19-million.
If you want to get involved in the local initiative call Limbouris on 082 442 7454.
If you are in Durban and want to buy a T-shirt visit Lucky Break or Soho stores at Cornubia; the Pearls or in Mathews Meyiwa/Stamford Hill Road.
To buy the T-shirts online go to https://flyersunion.co.za/ or www.luckybreak.co.za