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
