[March 2009] Anthropologie Order Update:

Above: Umcebo Crafters and the basket order for Anthropologie

The order of scrap plastic baskets destined for Anthropologie in the USA is now at an end.

Our good friend and supporter Trevyn McGowan from Source, assisted us to secure an order for 100 sample baskets in small, medium and large sizes, for Anthropologie to retail in their US stores. As always, many lessons were learnt by us. Anthropologie and Trevyn have also supported us in this learning process, and we cannot thank them enough for this. We hope to do further orders for Anthropologie and to grow this work into a new division, which can offer employment, and incomes, to some of the most marginalised members of our society, and their extended families. We thank Trevyn and Anthropologie for the order, and endless help and support in making this happen. Our thanks as well to Seeny who always makes the packaging and freighting such a pleasure. As NGO'S these orders and exporting to the USA, are all complex issues to deal with, and you need the right people to support and allow you to learn and grow through these experiences. This is the only way that you can build capacity. Please see images attached of the final batch of baskets, to leave the uShaka store. Anthropologie requested the more free form and organic type baskets, with spray painting and beadwork, to customise the order.

[March 2009] Beadwork Commission for SA National Library (Pretoria)- Malan and Associates:

Images of the works for the National Library in Pretoria

After the 08 Design Indaba, we were commissioned by Malan and Associates, to produce beadwork for the new National Library in Pretoria, which they had built and were decorating.

Given the scale of the building, these were enormous pieces, and helped to take our skills and commissions to a brand new level. We produced giant beaded aloes, trees, animals and all the national symbols. This taught us so much, as we had to work according to specific briefs, within specific timelines, and on a scale we had never worked on before. Our endless thanks to Malan and Associated for this valuable commission, and the opportunity to be part of this pretigious building. Our thanks as well to our good friend and supporter Kim Baker, who when she recently travelled to Pretoria recently, photographed the work for us, to share with you all.

[March 2009] ABSA Workshop:

Click above to Enlarge

Marcia Zungu, a long time supporter, who is now based in the CSI Department at ABSA, invited me to come and share my experiences with representatives from the ABSA Craft Projects.

I spent the morning at the ABSA Headquarters in Durban, engaging with the various groups. We learnt a lot from each other, and our thanks to Marcia and ABSA. Please check out the programme for the days events.

Minutes of Workshop.

[March 2009] Pivot Article:

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Umcebo Trust featured in a recent article in Pivot Magazine.

Our good friend and supporter Carol Brown, wrote an article on us for Pivot. This is a very influential publication, which goes to top government officials. We have had great feedback from the article and we wanted to share it with you. Our thanks as always to Carol and Pivot Magazine.

[March 2009] Business Day Article:

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Umcebo Trust featured in a recent article in Business Day about SA Exporters.

The work of the trust was discussed, and our work on expanding our exports was highlighted. This is important exposure for us and our work, and we are extremely grateful to Nicola Jenvey for her generous article.

[March 2009] Scrap Plastic Basket Order for Anthropologie USA:

Umcebo Trust is currently working on an order for a hundred sample baskets for Anthropologie USA. The order was brought to us by SOURCE SA, through our good friend and supporter Trevyn McGowan.

We are currently working with our in store crafters, as well as groups of women from Umlazi, Ntuzuma and Umgababa, to produce a hundred sample baskets. This has allowed many woman to obtain an income for themselves and their families. We cannot thank Anthropologie enough for this order, and we hope that it will lead to larger orders, and a new division of Umcebo. This will allow us to share the model and the opportunities it can afford, with many more marginalised creafters.

[March 2009] Umcebo Trust World Record Tree Attempt- Engineering Drawings:

Engineering Drawings for
Umcebo Eco-Tree

Umcebo Trust is working with Linda Ness, a well known local Engineer, who is lending her skills to the project.

Linda is well established, and has worked on numerous projects for the city (including the stainless steel bus stops, Moses Mabhida Stadium and the Timeball Square Clock). Linda has assisted with preliminary drawings, and is going to assist with the building of a sample or test section of the tree. Our thanks to Linda and her company, and we will be letting you know how the initial prototype is progressing. This will culminate in us starting to build the final tree.