No Monkeybiz-ness

7 September 2011

It’s enlightening to discover a company founded on a strong humanitarian ethos. Australian-based agency, emily ziz imports the spirit of the exotic African landscape to our shores with their unique, one-of-a-kind textiles and interior design products. But director and founder, Emma Levitt is committed to giving back to the African continent in any way possible. This is how they came to import Monkeybiz.

The Indigenous beadwork is crafted by a community of 450 women in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa. The sale of the beadwork helps contribute towards creating economic stability and empowerment to the most economically under-resourced areas of South Africa. The Monkeybiz artists have taken traditional African curio design and created one-off, hand-made pieces which have become collectable designer artworks. Celebrity collectors range from Nelson Mandela to Donna Karan and Halle Berry.

This benevolence is an important part of the emily ziz message. “South Africa is an amazing country that produces work which is second to none,” she says. “The country’s history has often made foreign market entry difficult, or even impossible, and it’s great to be able to bring this design and skill into Australia.” It’s employment and skills development profile is exceptional. Through creating sustainable employment, the fair trade project focuses on economic empowerment and health development in the most economically under-resourced areas of South Africa. Monkeybiz's goal is to build self-sufficiency back into communities, through micro-finance, AIDS education, nutrition, counselling, and ensuring that African cultural traditions of beadwork, singing and dance are kept alive.

emily ziz style studio has collaborated on uniquely Australian pieces of art through the Monkeybiz project, including a vegemite jar which was commissioned by the organisers of the recent Decoration + Design exhibition held in Melbourne and showcased on their feature exhibition stand. Special commissions, including corporate brands and logos, are available upon request.

Head to the emily ziz website to view and purchase the latest hand made Christmas tree decorations.

For more on emily ziz, head to the Decoration + Design blog.

 

Have your say