Q&A with Hayley

 Hayley, our first intern at Quazi Design, answers some questions:

1.       What drew you to come to Swaziland as an intern?

I was attrcated to Quazi,s philosophy, the creative opportunity and living somewhere new.

2.       What inspires you when designing? And what is your design process?

I am a visual thinker and find inspiration in my surrounding environment and the materials I work with.

My design process is a combination of research, collecting, drawing, and making.

3.       What advice would you give to young designers who want to work abroad?

Immerse yourself

4.       What have you learnt and what have you taught?

From the women I have learnt to laugh every day.

From Quazi I have learnt that the possibilities with paper are limitless.

            I have taught and trained the women how to make my new designs.

5.       What do you love about your work?

I love creativity through and through. To see and be part of the process from which a concept becomes a developed product. I am amused every time I compare a finalised product with initial idea and how far it has come.

Tehuti Style

Introducing our new geometric inspired collection, handmade from waste magazine paper using our own unique layering technique.

Studio Collaborations

From the ordinary to the extraordinary.....

New for 2013 is our STUDIO collaboration project, where we work with a local artisan on an innovative product design. We are excited to start this initiative with the launch of our pulp and jacaranda lights. Working with a local wood carver, Figile, to create organic inspired pendant lights. These will be available to purchase from the 1st of March. We have started with two shapes - round and cone - and would love your feedback and thoughts!

 

New Beaded Bib Necklaces in the making...

Design Day at Quazi.

The Ultimate in Recycling

The ultimate in recycling at our workshop in Swaziland.

Work tables are made from old doors, beads are organised in egg boxes and shelves are made from magazine bricks.

Artisan Story

Bonsile is an extremely hard working woman who is happy to share her skills and ideas with other woman. After school she decided to learn to become a seamstress, training with an individual who taught her how to use a machine, and she started her own business, designing and sewing track suits, cardigans and gloves for children. Realising that in order to sell she needs a unique product she would buy scraps from the local textile factories and create her own designs. Bonsile came to work for Quazi in 2010 at the age of 32, first as a seamstress and she has mastered how to make all our products. Alone, she pays school fess for three children and supports four people on her salary. She is a true believer that skills should be shared and women should support each other; having learnt traditional mat making from her mother she has passed on her hand craft skills to her children and says “to show other women how to  make something is important.”