STAFF WRITER
Cape Town craft and design entrepreneurs are stringing up awards like beads on a necklace – Jaqueline Burge of Rarity Handbags has won the entrepreneur of the year award at the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa (Bwasa) Western Cape Regional Achiever Awards.
In addition, jewellery designer and manufacturer Katherine-Mary Pichulik has been selected as emerging entrepreneur of the year. These accolades follow Cape Craft & Design Institute (CCDI) executive director Erica Elk’s 2013 award for social entrepreneur of the year.
The criteria for the awards are that the nominated business must be profitably run, owned by women and have been trading for more than five years. Nominations are judged by a panel of six, and the process is moderated and audited.
Rarity handbags are made in Cape Town from responsibly-sourced leather and are exported across the globe. The company has its own designer and patternmaker and has undertaken manufacturing in-house since 2001.
“Our philosophy is establishing niche markets for well-designed, quality products, made in African game, ostrich and Nguni leather,” says Burge. “A strong belief in independent thought and innovation are the foundations of our success and growth. Our clients can expect excellent service, with products delivered on time and to specification. Distinctive combinations of leathers and the contemporary interpretation of materials set us apart from our competitors.”
Rarity has close links with the CCDI – set up in 2001 to support the economic sustainability of the Western Cape craft and design sector – as it’s one of 20 enterprises selected for a five-year export promotion programme. This is being run by the CCDI and CBI, the centre for the promotion of imports from developing countries, an agency of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, with the support of the CCDI (which co-ordinates and manages export marketing opportunities sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry), Rarity showed at Maison et Objet in France in last year and will do so again this year.
Delighted at her win, Burge says: “CCDI empowers and enables enterprises of all sizes in all stages to achieve and maintain creative businesses. I advocate the merits of this establishment at every opportunity.”
Emerging entrepreneur winner Pichulik is a trained artist and patissier who started PICHULIK after a trip around India. Her luxury line of bold, colourful jewellery is inspired by travel, books and people, as well as patterns, shapes, palettes and the intimate relationship women have with jewellery. She will also be attending Maison et Objet in September with the CCDI.
“The CCDI provides an invaluable set of services to PICHULIK, through access to skills development and international export platforms through trade fairs.”
Visit www.ccdi.org.za, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.pichulik.com, call Jaqueline Burger on 021 448 1934, e-mail [email protected] or see www.rarity.co.za.