Stitched paper bowls for January 2012

Paper Fashion at RURAL TO RAMP Handcraft Showcase in Swaziland

A fashion handcarft showcase to promote product development and design within the Swaziland craft businesses. Held at House On Fire on the 26th Nov 2011 various talented designers and artisans got together to showcase their creations and raise money for a local homeopathy project. Here are the images from Quazi Design.

Umgodzi Collection in development

Summer gold

Summer is fast approaching us here in Swaziland, and to celebrate the scorching sun we are busy designing a new capsule collection called 'desert' using luxurious gold dipped paper beads.

The collection consists of beaded necklaces and chandelier inspired earrings with brass wire and coloured beads.

These new designs will be available next month to order.

Exciting collaboration

We believe that collaboration is the key to continous innovation and have therefore teamed up with an emerging designer from the UK, Hayley Zierold. Doron, our in-house designer is working closely with Hayley on developing the signature style of Quazi Design in a new capsule collection that will be launched in 2012.

The aim of this project is for Quazi Design to offer young inspiring designers a chance to work directly with a small ethical craft company in Africa, giving them experience and a creative platform for their work. It is also a chance for Quazi Design to offer new original designs to their customers and for our woman producers to learn new skills and hopefully employ more artisans.

Hayley Zierold is a contemporary jewellery designer and artist who is inspired by the intricacy and transient state of nature. The concept of jewellery and the values relating to it are vast, for Hayley designing jewellery has become an expressive language. Hayley is interested in how she can produce ethically sound and sustainable work.

We are very excited about this collaboration and will keep you all updated on progress with samples and final products.

To see Hayleys website click here

New York Gift Show

We are very pleased to announce our new distributor in the US; Samantha Davimes.

Their aim is to provide designs that are luxurious, trendy, vibrant and unusual, and work only with designers, manufacturers and artisans who maintain fair trade standards and a social consciousness. We are proud to be part of their new up and coming product line.

They created a beautiful stand at this years New York Gift Fair, and we were lucky enough to be interviewed by the NY Video Blog, have a look here

If you are in the US and looking to buy some of our unique jewellery please contact Samantha Davimes at info@samanthadavimes.com.

Christmas decorations available now

Custom design bowls

We would like to share with you some of our latest custom bowl designs that we are creating in collaboration with our customers in South Africa and USA. Food bowls for a deli, with recipes and gourmet images, Johannesburg map bowls for an interior design company and gold and red, and silver and black bowls for a department store. They are all made using waste paper. If you are interested in any of our designs or would like to create some unique and individual custom bowls with us just get in touch doron@quazidesign.com.

Ingenious Indigenous

Quazi Design showcased their one off pieces at the Handmade Showcase last weekend at Bushfire Festival. Inspired by wildlife it was an expressive collection where man and animal meet! all pieces were made using waste or recycled materials.

Swazi's International arts and music festival

Quazi is busy preparing for the annual Bushfire Festival, the highlight of the local music and arts entertainamnet, taking place at House On Fire 27th and 28th of May 2011. We will be selling our jewellery at the craft market and will also be taking part in an innovative 'Mixing the Point' handmade showcase on the runway on Saturday night. Last year we had an African shack painted in bright colours, made from scrap wood and old tin. Hope to see you all there!

Bridge for Africa

BRIDGE is committed to Building Resources to Inspire Dignity, Growth, and Empowerment (BRIDGE) through trade and have become a well-established and respected provider of fine contemporary crafts to the American market. Quazi Design have been working with BRIDGE since 2009 when Quazi Design was fortunate enough to be invited to The Vital Voices Artisan Program which took place in Nairobi, Kenya.

In partnership with Bridge, Vital Voices select artisans’ products to wholesalers at various trade shows in the US and The Vital Voices Artisan Program organizes intensive week-long workshops where participants are provided with expert training which includes modules on : Product design and development, Packaging and Packing for Export, Intellectual property rights, Branding and marketing, Export and international trade issues, Costing and Pricing for Export, Distribution in the United States, Europe or other countries throughout the Hemisphere.

We would like to thank BRIDGE for believing in us and assisting us. Our new collection of Stitched paper bowls were recently displayed at their stand at a Trade Show.

If you are in the Netherlands...

Baie Goed have just opened their new shop in Maastricht, specialising in handmade products from South Africa and stocking Quazi Design from Swaziland.

Fair Trade in Australia

We are very pleased to be working with Emily at The Fair Trade Store in Australia. As a lover of design, a mum, and the desire to support talented artisans around the globe who are not graced with opportunity, she launched her website, The Fair Trade Store, in December 2010. Her search for unique and contemporary adornments for the home and person has led her to find some of the most amazing products to offer in her store, that have been made using fair trade practices.
On Sunday May 22nd at the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne The Fair Trade Store will be at the Victorian Fair Trade Festival. They will be there with a spectacular range of products, including a brand new jewellery line made from up-cycled waste magazines from Quazi Design!

From the beginning...

We would like to introduce you to Sibongile Maseko, the first woman of Quazi Design. She is now the production manager and trains all the other woman producers, plus being in charge of orders, quality, and packing. We would like to thank Sibongile for all her hard work, she is the foundation of Quazi Design. With her salary she supports 9 dependents at her home stead, is training to be a preacher and still finds time to teach English in her community. She is truly inspirational.

Adore, Reflect, Sustain

Doron was interviewed by Emma Waight for her website on eco, ethical products from all over the world.

Have a look at Emma Waight website for full interview.

SARCDA Trade Show March 2011

Pictures from our stand at the SARCDA Trade Show in Johannesburg. Thank you to all who came by our stand and for all the new customers we met.

Product Development

New for 2011 we are experimenting with furniture made entirely from waste magazines and wooden sides. We would love to hear what you think about it. Plus we are developing our small lampstands made from waste paper with a wooden base and white lampshade. These products will be on show at SARCDA Trade Show 10th till 13th March 2011 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. We hope to see you there.

Workshop in progress - update

The workshop is taking shape.

New Paper Bowls

Launching our new paper bowls, 100% waste magazine paper, water based glue and water based varnish. Get in touch for more details and if you would like to order. doron@quazidesign.com

Photo shoot

Thank you to Daisy who was our beautiful model and agreed to do a small photoshoot, in the beautiful African countryside.