SA ARTISANS AND
ENTREPRENEURS GET LONG-TERM DISPLAY OPPORTUNITIES AT ONE OF THE WORLDS BIGGEST
DISPLAY MARKETS
MUSHAKABVU
WAKA KAJENGO
The community of Atlanta, the biggest city in the US state of Georgia, exposed to some intriguing
examples of the home decor and textile-manufacturing talents of a wide range of
South African artisans and entrepreneurs.
After an absence of
five years from the Atlanta’s
Americasmart Showrooms, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti)
has re-established a permanent showroom to showcase local products manufactured
by small businesses and cooperatives.
“This is one of the
of the dti interventions to broaden the participation of SMME’s and
Cooperatives in the economy through global markets. The reinstatement of the
showroom to this market has been widely welcomed - and the quality of the goods
that put on display fulsomely praised.” Deputy Elizabeth Thabethe said.
Deputy Minister
of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, say she was highly impressed by
the talent and skills that had gone into designing and crafting an ‘impressive
array of fashionable products.
“The participating
artisans at this showroom consist of an interesting mix - of both the known and
the up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Among the more established businesses
participating is the Bayede! Royal Signature Textiles from KwaZulu-Natal.” She said
Bayede! (an isiZulu
term that translates into English as ‘Hail the King!’) has strong connections
with the Zulu Monarch, King Goodwill Zwelethini, who, in backing it as a job
creation project, has given it his ‘royal seal of approval’ and hailed as the
first to develop royal and luxury product range for the African continent.
Some of the
products on display include sets of ottomans and coffee tables made out of
recycled tyres by Yolanda Msutwana and Sazi Mkunqwana, and their East
London-based Company, Ozzys Eco Decor, and award-winning baskets hand-woven out
of ukhasi grass and ilala palm leaves by Angeline Masuku.
Some of the participants include Tlanggape
Upholstery, which manufactures customized furniture, in addition to restoring
upholstery (as well as customizing woodwork, authentic African fabric and
leather), based in Polokwane, in Limpopo
Deputy
Minister Thabethe said that the cultural diversity of these products ought to
be a source of inspiration to all South Africans. Thabethe stated that she was
convinced that American and international consumers will be impressed with the
quality of the goods on display.
In his message of
support, the South African ambassador to the USA, Mr Ebrahim Rasool, said thrilled
that the dti has brought project to fruition.
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