Quality craft and art from all over Africa.
Design Afrika was established in 1995 in Cape Town, South Africa, by Binky Newman, an African by birth.
Binky travels to remote areas throughout Afrika to collect finely made contemporary craft and traditional functional art.
Design Afrika and Binky work with community-based projects and individuals, often in very remote villages. We advise on market trends, development of product lines and the most economical way to bring handicrafts to the market.
Binky is fiercely determined to show that Africa is not only a place of hardship. It is also filled with beauty – beautiful scenery, beautiful people, beautiful music, beautiful craft and beautiful art. By promoting well-made reasonably priced, functional and artistic craft, Design Afrika aims to contribute to the emergence of Africa as a source of inspiration and spiritual strength.
The following products where used.
- Wooden Driftwood Chairs
- Copper baskets
Tel: + 27 21 4489761
Email: binky@mweb.co.za
Web: www.designafrika.co.za
Address: 42 Hares Avenue, Woodstock 7925. South Africa
The Story
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What is the final product made of?
Driftwood that is found on rural farms in the countryside outside Harare, Zimbabwe 2. Copper baskets – Bamalo in Mali
The parts or “ingredients” of the chairs comes from driftwood and the baskets are copper wire.
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What is the life of the product?
Both are made to last forever
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Describe the transport journey of the parts or ‘ingredients’ of the product to you.
The chairs are carved in the bush where the wood is found and then transported by donkey cart to Harare. It then came by container to Cape Town
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Is the final product recyclable?
Yes
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If it is, will the new recycled product have a low carbon footprint?
As the chairs break down, smaller sculptures can be carved from the wood. The copper can be unwound and used to make different shapes. BOTH pieces are made by hand – the chairs using hand operated old traditional implements.
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Do your company and or factory have any water saving programs in place.
Energy saving light bulbs
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Does your company or factory have any water saving programs in place.
No water is used
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Are you involved in any community upliftment, charities or social development programs?
All over Africa, we introduce new designs, sustainable harvesting policies and more efficient methods of transporting the goods.