2econd World

MonkeyBiz

Monkeybiz supplies richly coloured glass beads to women in the townships of Cape Town. The 450 women involved in the project are currently producing exquisite hand beaded artworks - each a unique one-off creation. The women are paid for each piece they produce; and since they work from home, can look after their families and avoid transport costs. The beaded works are creating a sensation wherever they appear - locally and abroad.

Historically, bead work, in a South African context, has been the domain of women largely within the Xhosa, Zulu, Ndebele and Sotho communities. The women are introduced to the craft directly through their mothers, grandmothers and other women in the community.

South African designer Heath Nash is a man on a mission. The graduate of the University of Cape Town is out to figure out what South Africa could look like or what design language could express as contemporary aesthetic of his country; his collection of lampshades and other handcrafted lifestyle products showcases his experiments with ‘craft techniques’ as a high end design tool. However he does it, you’d never guess that the lampshades above are made from used milk bottles and “other people’s rubbish,” which is also the title for the collection of lighting