From postcard to work of art
Are you still sending postcards, or would you prefer to bring back a small souvenir of your trip to give in person? What if you could kill two birds with one stone? The creators of Woody Cards reinvent the classic postcard as a small work of art. There are modern ones, vintage ones, animal ones... all painted in the style of a poster on a small wooden plate. Woody Cards restore the desire to write, as do the little logbooks covered in ShweShwe, the colorful African fabric from Shweetproducts, pretty, bold and 100% local! Local is also the spearhead of Whimsical Collection, a South African company that transfers Deziree Smith's most beautiful designs onto your souvenirs. On cushions, pouches, beach bags and placemats, the "Big Five" and all the fauna of southern Africa take center stage. Still on the artistic side, you'll find Soil & Co's little boutique at the Watershed on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront. Known for their exotic posters, illustrated with local flora and fauna, sisters Kara and Mieke Wertschnig, graphic designers and illustrators by training, are today growing the Soil & Co print brand.
The must-have jewel
How can we talk about fashion and accessories without mentioning Pitchulik's iconic jewelry? In downtown Cape Town, push open the door of the boutique-atelier. This designer jewelry combines contemporary shapes with traditional materials and colors. Each season has its own collection, with each piece designed to protect its wearer. A beautiful gift, which would pair perfectly with Addo African Clothes' superb collection of comfortable, chic and ethical clothing. In a completely different style, we meet the quirky world of Morgane & the Queens. Morgane is a French jewelry designer who cut her teeth at the Beaux-Arts in Marseille. Based in Cape Town, she creates her jewelry from recycled materials. Sometimes unique, often unusual, oh so poetic. Let yourself be carried away! And then there are the bead enthusiasts. If, like Anna, creator and founder of Beloved Beadword, you're passionate about pearls, mounted on original creations that will dress up your ears or wrists, go for it!
Did you know that buying a bracelet can change lives? That's exactly what Relate claims. In partnership with various NGOs and other associations committed to education, equality and animal welfare, Relate sells bracelets for a good cause. Made by the elderly, refugees or township youth, giving or buying this unpretentious little jewel helps them, while supporting a chosen cause: saving the rhinoceros, for example. A nice touch.
A taste for travel
So foodies, are you still here? We haven't forgotten about you. If, like us, you like to bring back a little piece of your trip to share with your friends, here are some practical ideas. Throughout your journey, it follows you and often delights the small hungers and the aperitifs: the biltong, of course, the famous and typically "sudaf" dried meat, invented by the Afrikaners at the time of the Great Trek. It is mainly made of beef, even if today you can find springbok, ostrich, kudu, or piri-piri. You can always find it at the Duty Free store before boarding, just like the bottles of wine. It would be a shame to leave out all those beautiful dresses discovered in the vineyards. But if you imagine that you'll find the magic of the South African braai when you return, you should know that the braai is no longer grilled without Funky Ouma's irresistible packaging. Also irresistible is the Mandala Tea rooibos box: unavoidable, beautiful and unbreakable in the suitcase, the iron box can be found in all souvenir stores.
The decorative souvenir
It seems that the paper or wooden trophy has become a trend. At Headondesign, they are made into real works of art. The animal heads that you can make yourself and hang over fireplaces, desks or cribs are a hit. Multicolored, blue and white, inspired by the savannah, the jungle, the heads of kudu, elephant, nguni bull, buffalo or rhinoceros painted by Sharon and Joanna are splendid. Flat in the suitcase, it can be assembled at home!
You will see that here the art of beading takes an important place in the markets. With wire or beads of all colors, the artists are able to make a small taxi-bus in decoration, with passengers. In the Bokaap district, Streetwires is a workshop-boutique where you can buy a small typical object and support the local craft industry. You can even learn how to make your own beaded keychain with an artist.
Let's continue with the decoration. Lilly Loompa is Lizl's nickname. She creates design objects made from recycled parts, table accessories, lamps or one of her flagship objects: My Africa, a wooden map of Africa to hang on the wall - simplicity and poetry. On the tableware side, there are superb pottery creations from South Africa. Wonki Ware's pottery started on the Garden Route in a small personal workshop in the town of George and today employs about 70 people from disadvantaged areas.
What if the market came to you?
A personal shopper at home! This is the challenge of Fleur and Cécile, the creators of Wonderlands, who offer baby essentials: bibs, changing mats, pacifier clips, reusable wipes... By developing a local, ethical and eco-responsible approach, the two friends are looking to promote entrepreneurs with whom they share these values. So, they created a collective that brings together French-speaking women who have created their brand by highlighting local colors and resources: Les Artisanes du Cap. The idea? "To get together and come with a selection of products directly to the clients' hotel in Cape Town so that they can make their selection without having to travel. A personal shopper at home", explains Fleur. Still growing, the collective already consists of the French women of Wonderlands, the designers, but also the home and beach linens of African Jacquart, the customizable designs of The Sugard Bird, the bags and other handcrafted accessories of Bamba Zonke or the souvenirs of all kinds created by artisans from the townships of Cape Town thanks to Ikamva Design. So if you're not into shopping, fluent in English, or just don't have the time, the Cape Town Artisans Market will come to you, how about that?
