capetowncreatives.co.za » Monkeybiz

Monkeybiz exhibition at the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, The Netherlands

Cape Town Creatives — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:28:28 +0000

The curators of the National Museum of Ethnology in The Netherlands attended Design Indaba in 2008 and saw Monkeybiz’s work on display there. They contacted Monkeybiz in 2009, returned to Cape Town at the end of last year and purchased all the artworks for the exhibition. The exhibition runs in Leidon from May 27th until 22nd August 2010.

New shop for Monkeybiz

Cape Town Creatives — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:15:05 +0000

Monkeybiz have recently revamped their retail outlet in Bo-Kaap. With rich textures and colours, the name of the game, this new shop is sure to be a visual feast. Visit Monkeybiz’s shop at 43 Rose Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. For more information and opening times contact +27 21 426 0636.

Monkeybiz South Africa, is a nonprofit income-generating bead project started in January 2000.
Through creating sustainable employment, Monkeybiz focuses on women’s economic empowerment and health development in the most economically under-resourced areas of South Africa.

The project, which has established a vibrant community of more than 450 bead artists, many of whom are the sole breadwinners within their households, has transformed the beaded arts market in South Africa. Departing from the culture of mass-produced curio craft, each Monkeybiz artwork is unique and is signed by the artist, ensuring that individual artists receive recognition for their work.

To view Monkeybiz’s complete portfolio on Cape Town Creatives, click here.

Experience Design Indaba 2010

Cape Town Creatives — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:45:54 +0000

We asked a few designers/creative companies to comment on their experience at Design Indaba Expo 2010. Read what they had to say below:

Streetwires at Design Indaba Expo 2010

We had a very successful Design Indaba, as our new products were well-received by our regular customers, and we had some interest from new prospects too.

Our ideas / inspiration was to move away from the obvious soccer themes that are now on every conceivable product and rather provide something that tourists would like, and locals would relate to. Beaded animals and the big 5 are almost as prolific as soccer balls, so we decoded to go for a Township theme, but with a ‘feel-good’ vibe – something to make people smile. It seems we were spot-on!

Urbanative Jewellery at Design Indaba Expo 2010

Urbanative jewellery had a wonderful expo 2010! We met lots of like minded creatives and look forward to next years expo to keep the momentum going.

Monkeybiz at Design Indaba Expo 2010

This year’s Design Indaba held great significance for the Monkeybiz team, as it sought to honour it’s co-founder, Barbara Jackson. As always it was inspirational.

Fundi Light and Living at Design Indaba Expo 2010

We had a wonderful response to our products and new fabric collections from the media, trade and public (and the mass of students…). The Design Indaba is a wonderful platform to showcase new products into the market, but we definitely saw less trade and much less international buyer presence at the show this year. One can see that all the ‘big names’ have either dropped out or have really reduced the size of their stands, and the overall feel of the show has become more craft orientated. We hope 2011 will bring back the design edge that the show was so synonymous for.

Cape Town Crafters

Cape Town Creatives — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:54:21 +0000

Cape Town is one of South Africa’s most important creative hubs. Cape Town Creatives was started with the vision to centralise information relating to the creative industry in Cape Town. Here is a list of excellent crafters/craft companies based in Cape Town. Click on the names below to view the full portfolio on the Cape Town Creatives website.