Eight workshops, each lasting eight days, have been facilitated for a total of 103 craft producers since 2008. They have marked huge growth periods in the craft producers' lives, encouraging them to approach both familiar and new materials in a fresh way and leading to the creation of new, exciting products.
"We do not teach skills such as weaving or knitting, instead the CCDI focuses on how to think and problem solve creatively," said CCDI workshop facilitator Karen Stewart. "People are encouraged to grow from the point at which they currently find themselves. Small steps are taken to becoming a better businessperson, designer and innovator."
The latest residency graduates are three craft producers and entrepreneurs from Mozambique - Walter Zandamela, an artist and technician working in various materials such as wood and ceramics; Marcia Horst, who makes fashion and home accessories from wood and fibres such as ilala palm and grass under the Dithonga label and fashion designer Isaque Mohammed, who was co-hosted by the CCDI and the Cape Town Fashion Council.
Horst experimented with plastic for the first time and created a new fashion accessory range from mixed materials. Zandamela also explored new materials, assisted by the Product Support Space, and made a range of objects combining African and Asian cultures and Mohammed designed a new range of women's clothing during his stay.
In addition, two interns, one from Mozambique and one from Zimbabwe, spent February at the CCDI working side-by-side with CCDI staff on two programmes. The purpose of the internship is to spread skills and knowledge in the development of the sector across the region.
"Working on the CCDI Handmade Collection stand at Design Indaba gave me the opportunity of further networking with South African and international buyers, and craft producers/designers participating in the expo," said intern Jane Parsons of Global Arts in Harare, Zimbabwe. "I was also able to make a direct link with the Design Indaba Expo management team and look forward to developing a cutting-edge Zimbabwean collection to be presented at the next Design Indaba Expo."
