Organisers of the Eastern Cape Handmade Collection pop-up shop in Vincent Park travelled to the furthest reaches of the province to source innovative pieces of the highest quality for the temporary shop that will be up until December 18.
“We went on a road trip to places like Mount Ayliff, Barkly East, Port St Johns, Mthatha, Queenstown, Fort Beaufort and Port Alfred to look for products,” product development consultant for the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) Marika Jacobs said.
“We had meetings in community halls and selected only the best work.”
The result is the Eastern Cape Handmade Collection of ceramics, beadwork, Christmas decorations, homeware and clothing featuring the innovation and talent of homegrown arts and crafts.
Jacobs, who was also the brains behind the first pop-up craft shop held at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery in May, said the success of the first one had led to requests for a second pre-Christmas pop-up.
“Top sellers so far have been the distinctive ceramics by Kenton artist Meshak Masuku with his signature design element of Nguni cows and contemporary grass baskets and lampshades by Nomode Mdlalisa of Coffee Bay, who is very well known for her beautiful grasswork.”
Jacobs said she had been struck by the number of shoppers who asked about the provenance of the products.
“Everyone wants to know the story behind them and everybody wants to support local.”
The pop-up craft shops are funded by the ECDC, Seda, the Amathole District Municipality and Buffalo City Metro, with Da Gama Textiles having come aboard recently.
“Da Gama saw that so many crafters – like the Friday Bags made in Kwelera, little bags made in Port St Johns and funky Afrochild peak hats use shweshwe so they are funding us too,” Jacobs said.
Stand-out products include placemats by Sophumelela Women’s Co-op in Fort Beaufort who embroidered them with representations of their favourite buildings, cushions by Kwelera fibre artist Kathryn Harmer-Fox whose cushions gleam with slick fish images and mohair sheep and lambs by Nolusizo Weavers in Wesley Village.
Port Alfred’s Molo Mimi has funked up army surplus shirts and berets into unique fashion pieces complete with fibre art and shweshwe panel embellishments and inspirational slogans.
All proceeds go directly to the craft practitioners with the exception of 2% for transaction costs.
“This pop-up shop is not for profit. It has a developmental function and and helps crafters market their products and get exposure,” Jacobs said.
Speaking at the opening last week, BCM deputy executive mayor Xola Pakati urged shoppers to “buy local and support our small producers and crafters”. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Pop-up shop offers top homegrown arts, crafts
“We went on a road trip to places like Mount Ayliff, Barkly East, Port St Johns, Mthatha, Queenstown, Fort Beaufort and Port Alfred to look for products,” product development consultant for the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) Marika Jacobs said.
“We had meetings in community halls and selected only the best work.”
The result is the Eastern Cape Handmade Collection of ceramics, beadwork, Christmas decorations, homeware and clothing featuring the innovation and talent of homegrown arts and crafts.
Jacobs, who was also the brains behind the first pop-up craft shop held at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery in May, said the success of the first one had led to requests for a second pre-Christmas pop-up.
“Top sellers so far have been the distinctive ceramics by Kenton artist Meshak Masuku with his signature design element of Nguni cows and contemporary grass baskets and lampshades by Nomode Mdlalisa of Coffee Bay, who is very well known for her beautiful grasswork.”
Jacobs said she had been struck by the number of shoppers who asked about the provenance of the products.
“Everyone wants to know the story behind them and everybody wants to support local.”
The pop-up craft shops are funded by the ECDC, Seda, the Amathole District Municipality and Buffalo City Metro, with Da Gama Textiles having come aboard recently.
“Da Gama saw that so many crafters – like the Friday Bags made in Kwelera, little bags made in Port St Johns and funky Afrochild peak hats use shweshwe so they are funding us too,” Jacobs said.
Stand-out products include placemats by Sophumelela Women’s Co-op in Fort Beaufort who embroidered them with representations of their favourite buildings, cushions by Kwelera fibre artist Kathryn Harmer-Fox whose cushions gleam with slick fish images and mohair sheep and lambs by Nolusizo Weavers in Wesley Village.
Port Alfred’s Molo Mimi has funked up army surplus shirts and berets into unique fashion pieces complete with fibre art and shweshwe panel embellishments and inspirational slogans.
All proceeds go directly to the craft practitioners with the exception of 2% for transaction costs.
“This pop-up shop is not for profit. It has a developmental function and and helps crafters market their products and get exposure,” Jacobs said.
Speaking at the opening last week, BCM deputy executive mayor Xola Pakati urged shoppers to “buy local and support our small producers and crafters”. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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