I find the expert this year to be extremely professional, really professional.
I like the parts where two people come in and they just broaden their stuff and they're
showing it but then also there's really a very beautiful seriousness about the way
things are laid out and merchandise here. I think you could turn this into a shop
basically because these are so so so tempting. I'm here to really buy up a
storm and put in quite big orders which will keep us going for the next six
months. The football has been crazy. I had a thousand business cards by the end of
day one they were gone. When franchises like this start recognizing you know
that you're going somewhere and like you need to work towards certain goals to
achieve certain things and impress certain people here. I mean it's a lot of
people here and if they like your work then you work your heart. It's quite
exciting because you see all these beginnings of people really passionate
about what they do and what they create and all the love and energy that goes
into creating their space and into sharing their products with the public.
There's so many businesses that you can think of around the country that had
they not been exposed at this platform I don't think their businesses would have
grown. I call the whole thing totemism and the totemism really means that
you're stacking and layering meaning spiritual ideas so there is something
really strong emotionally I think in this idea of totemism. I think it's
about ten times better than it was last year. There's definitely a lot more here
and when what's important is there's a lot more that's a lot better. We retail
is looking for more niche products not mass produced products so I think that's
why it's becoming interesting. It's limited limited edition products.
You definitely see the standard increase in the calibre of design and niche
products.
We are pleased to be here again with the design in Darba today. It's already an
example of what is possible in our country. We're going to have a world
design capital 2014 project and we hope that we can proceed and getting
everybody in Cape Town involved.
I feel very proud as a South African that we have the ability and the
opportunity as a nation to present to the world to see that these young
designers sitting there with their clothes and they're hustling and they're
making it happen for themselves.
Every product that's here practically is something that I could see being sold
in another place in the world because it's that professional it's that
beautiful and it has that story to tell that people are really wanting right now.
If design in Darba continues to to push forward its identity and its integrity
through the world it's going to give a platform for South African creatives
you know like none other in the world. My only regret about the design in Darba
is that what's going on there is not being blasted out on every street in
every classroom in every home you know in the land at the same time in the world
at the same time.
