Craft and Design exhibition promotes local products on the global stage

Last week, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, visited the Craft and Design Institute’s (CDI) newest exhibition, NEXT21, at the V&A Waterfront. This exciting showcase provides a global virtual platform for proudly South African products, including the latest furniture, lighting, textiles, fashion accessories and homeware from 23 top talents. Read more below:

Through the Enterprise and Investment Department, the City partners with and provides funding to Strategic Business Partners (SBPs) to grow sectors that have the potential for significant expansion and job creation.

In the clothing and textile sector, the City also partners with the CDI​, which is a South African non-profit company with two decades of success in developing creative people, small businesses and the craft and design sector.

‘I am very proud of our partnership with the CDI and especially our programmes that train and place young unemployed residents in the clothing and textiles sector. Our most recent training and placement programme is called the Cape Skills and Employment Accelerator Programme. The City, together with the CDI and the National Skills Fund, enables SMMEs to take on machinists at a greatly reduced cost to their business, while creating learning and work opportunities for unemployed women,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos.

‘It was a great pleasure to personally view the CDI’s newest exhibition last week and I was very impressed with the new format, which will allow potential buyers to view the proudly local products in an interactive online platform, throughout the year,’ said Alderman Vos.

The online exhibition will showcase a wide variety of export-ready producers, who will all be launching brand-new, ready-to-order ranges on the platform. The participating businesses hail from across the nation and represent the best of South African craft and design. Exhibitors include a mix of well-established brands and rising stars such as Africa Ignite, Modern Gesture, Design Afrika, Chimpel, Ozzy Eco Décor and Studio Stirling, among others.

‘I am proud to partner with the CDI to provide local entrepreneurs with a platform to engage and do business with both local and international buyers, thereby enabling them to grow their businesses and hopefully employ more people,’ said Alderman Vos.

To view the array of products that will be launched on NEXT21, visit www.thecdi.org.za/next21 from 25 March 2021.

To find out more about NEXT21 and the products on view, contact Fran Stewart via email: fran.stewart@thecdi.org.za.

For more information on the CDI, visit www.thecdi.org.za.