Blessed with the recent visit of Francesca Torri (Art Director) who has been training our Women the art of perfection from the very beginning. Her recent
visit to Arusha was filled with smiles and adventure.
Francesca Torri teaching new unique skills to the Women.
Her keen eye for quality and constant creativity made our new collection all the more fantastic and brings us all peace of mind for our new launch of uniquely crafted jewellery.
Combining beads and leather
Cheka and Gabrelle in our Mkuru training camp workshop, Arusha
We are currently in the process of creating a Leather and Beaded combination collection. In the upcoming months we will be releasing a line of Bags using recycled canvas , locally made leather, and will then be hand beaded by our wonderfully skilled Maasai women in Mkuru.
Cheka Assisting Rachel Ambrose – photoshoot for new collection
With the help of our Newest Member Cheka Bearcroft who will be taking charge of this new project as well as helping with other aspects of the company. Karibu Cheka!
We welcome our latest new staff member ROSE !!!! Rose has taken over from Margaret and will be delighted to take you through the wonderful beaded jewelry selection at our shop in Arusha. Karibuni !
Rose in our Maasai Women’s Art Shop at Sable Square
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
2016…Already! Over a year has gone and we have been pretty silent since our last newsletter…many things have happened in 2015 and a lot is going on already in the new year at Maasai Women Art…
Movies! …“Not just jewelry” a wonderful short video that explains what we do and who we are has just been produced by Rachel Ambrose and is now available to watch on YouTube. Please watch, enjoy and share it.
Our Margaret has been chosen as one of three amazing women in Tanzania to tell her story for the The Pamoja Film Project – http://unitetnz.org/pamoja-film-project/, a 30 minutes documentary by Audrey Emerson that will be released at the end of March in the United States. We hope that Margaret will be able to fly to USA for the event!
Look out !
Italy..Women for Expo We were extremely proud to win a space at EXPO2015 as a successful cooperating project that was started to improve women’s lives which soon became and still is a totally selfsustained organisation.
At the end of this month 29thJanuary – 1st February our distributor for Italy Cetaceaservice will be at HOMI international fair in Milan. The Fair is mainly dedicated to retailer and attracts customers from all over the world.
North America.. New York..Vancouver Our very active distributor in Northern America and Canda LotusLand Imports has featured Maasai Women Art jewelry in a couple of important events in New York at the ‘NY NOW’ artcraft fair and in Canada at the Vancouver International Film Festival debut of ‘THE TRUE COST’ – exploring the true cost of fashion to create a healthier fashion industry. In April last year LotusLand Imports was, with MWA jewelry, among the participants in Vancouver at the 6 day festival Eco Fashion Week where sustainability was put in the spotlight, with runway shows and fashion-focused events, designed to raise awareness of social, environmental and economically sustainable practice.
LotusLand Imports is now exclusively selling MWA jewelry not only in Canada but also on the West Coast of the USA – California, Oregon and Washington DC.
Katherine Benoit is exclusively selling the jewelry in Florida and planning to expand her ‘territory’ in the USA.
Australia.. . Kathy Drogemuller www.paracombewines.com/community/maasai-womens-art is representing MWA in Australia and has created an important market on the vast continent already. One of Australia’s leading fashion designer’s Lisa Baron www.lisabarron.com.au had her models wearing some of MWA jewellery on the catwalk last year.
Encouraging news on the local market front… After a very slow first 6 months the local market has increased and sales have been above the average of the previous couple of years. The retail outlet at Sable Square in Arusha is still moving slowly but has definitely improved over the last few months. Our jewelries are also displayed and sold in several places in and around Arusha at Cultural Heritage, Arusha Coffee Lodge new outlet, Kia Lodge and Moivaro Coffee Lodge.
NEW COLLECTION FOR 2016 ! It is time for new designs and colors. We are very excited and looking forward to start working with Francesca, and her new assistant in Milan, Italy, who will travel to Tanzania sometime soon to meet the Maasai women and train them on the new creations. We are planning to launch the new catalogue sometime mid this year. It is going to be a very thrilling 2016 for sure!
Welcome Mama EVA! Mama Eva has played a key role in the last few years and we are extremely happy to have her now full time among our small staff team. Mama Eva is without any doubt the best artisan at MWA. Thanks to a generous donation from Unite The World For Africa www.uniteafricafoundation.org Mama Eva started an intensive English course at CHIPUKA CENTER and will soon be able to exchange ideas and experience with all our customers at the shop in Arusha.
Tanzania Maasai Women Art is financially self-sustained. However any further support is very helpful. If you want to make a donation or somehow contribute to the development activities please contact us at the following address: info@maasaiwomneart.org
Ashe’!
www.maasaiwomenart.org
The jewelries have been an extra touch to the amazing hair styles for a Hairdressing competition in Canada. Certainly original and a bit eccentric ! What do you think ?
Our retail shop in Arusha is located since April this year at the new shopping village ‘Sable Square’. The place is absolutely beautiful, far from the hectic traffic of Arusha town and surrounded by green lush vegetation. Beside the very favourable location of the premises on the road that connects to all Northern Circuits safaris, 5 minutes from Arusha Airport and the safe and peaceful environment, we are still waiting for a better foot flow and increase of business. We are looking forward to your visit !!!
Sales over sea have increased this year with 14 customers all over the world. Canada and Northern America with LotusLand Imports are still our greatest market places. Switzerland has become our second best export destination with Mercifai GmbH in Basel. United States, Italy with Cetacea Service (www.cetaceaservice.com), Australia and Scandinavia are among the other main buyers abroad.
Time flies for sure ! Seven month have gone already since we launched the new catalogue for 2014-15. We are very pleased with the customers response to the ‘Vintage Collection’ and glad that the selection of the designs was pretty good.
THE NEW SHOP
PHOTO SHOOTING FOR THE NEW COLLECTION A lot is happening and all very exciting ! Francesca Torri Soldini has offered her time again this year and has flown to Tanzania to help out with the final selection of designs and colors for the collection 2014. But not only………….she has also accepted to model for the new catalogue ! Her experience and skills, her contagious positive energy and sense of humor have transformed the hard working days into fun and very enjoyable moments. ASHE’ “Francesica”….(this is how the Maasai women call her) !!
FILMING IN MAASAI LAND Rachel Ambrose who is and has been the great photographer behind each catalogue for the last 5 years, has offered to film the Maasai Women in Mkuru with “Francesica” working on new designs. These footage will be part of the short documentary about Tanzania Maasai Women Art story hopefully ready towards the end of this year.
THE RETAIL SHOP IN ARUSHA HAS MOVED TO THE NEW SHOPPING CENTER ‘SABLE SQUARE’ We have moved our shop to the new and very beautiful SABLE SQUARE Shopping Village just a few minutes drive from Arusha Airport. The center is located on the main road which leads to all the Northern Safari circuits.
