A Mdantsane-born designer has taken recycling to a new level in East London with his handbags.
Loyiso Soci, 44, has reinvented his own art after being in the industry for nearly 15 years, and is using recycled wood to make handbags.
He started off with beading work when he was an art teacher at Nompumelelo Public School in Duncan Village. His work included beaded sandals, belts and necklaces.
In 2008 he developed a passion for making leather handbags and then late last year, his new venture of using recycled materials started.
“I started designing the wooden bags last year after drawing inspiration from the area of Duncan Village where I work. Many shacks are built daily and the offcuts of wood are either burnt or thrown away.
“I also have a friend who does carpentry so I buy some material from him too and then create the handmade bags,” Soci said.
In 2007 the Daily Dispatch reported on how Soci, then a maths and art teacher, had taken the world of beading by storm. In 2013, he quit his teaching job, taking up his bag-designing business as a source of income. He now has a home in West Bank.
“Emotionally and spiritually the art is fulfilling although it is financially not that fulfilling. Recycling is definitely the way to go for me from now.
“I have started with the recycled wood and I will be moving to using car tyres and even gumboots to make hand bags. I don’t limit myself to one material only.
“So far the reception has been really good and not only does recycling help us clean the environment but it can also help us put a little money in our pockets,” Soci said.
His latest work was presented this week in Mdantsane during the Masifunde Book Fair hosted by the provincial department of arts and culture at the NU14 library.
He said the exhibition gave him a lot of exposure and saw some of the products bought from the stands.
He is preparing for the Grahamstown Arts Festival this year and hopes to return to the Decorex SA exhibition in Johannesburg.
“I have clients in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Ethekwini but most of them are here in East London and that is through word of mouth, from exhibitions and my Facebook page Singa Creations. I am working on setting up my website soon,” he said. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Designer takes recycling to a higher level
Loyiso Soci, 44, has reinvented his own art after being in the industry for nearly 15 years, and is using recycled wood to make handbags.
He started off with beading work when he was an art teacher at Nompumelelo Public School in Duncan Village. His work included beaded sandals, belts and necklaces.
In 2008 he developed a passion for making leather handbags and then late last year, his new venture of using recycled materials started.
“I started designing the wooden bags last year after drawing inspiration from the area of Duncan Village where I work. Many shacks are built daily and the offcuts of wood are either burnt or thrown away.
“I also have a friend who does carpentry so I buy some material from him too and then create the handmade bags,” Soci said.
In 2007 the Daily Dispatch reported on how Soci, then a maths and art teacher, had taken the world of beading by storm. In 2013, he quit his teaching job, taking up his bag-designing business as a source of income. He now has a home in West Bank.
“Emotionally and spiritually the art is fulfilling although it is financially not that fulfilling. Recycling is definitely the way to go for me from now.
“I have started with the recycled wood and I will be moving to using car tyres and even gumboots to make hand bags. I don’t limit myself to one material only.
“So far the reception has been really good and not only does recycling help us clean the environment but it can also help us put a little money in our pockets,” Soci said.
His latest work was presented this week in Mdantsane during the Masifunde Book Fair hosted by the provincial department of arts and culture at the NU14 library.
He said the exhibition gave him a lot of exposure and saw some of the products bought from the stands.
He is preparing for the Grahamstown Arts Festival this year and hopes to return to the Decorex SA exhibition in Johannesburg.
“I have clients in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Ethekwini but most of them are here in East London and that is through word of mouth, from exhibitions and my Facebook page Singa Creations. I am working on setting up my website soon,” he said. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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