Second AfricaRise store opens in Gauteng
South African fashion designer Thula Sindi opened the second AfricaRise store in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, earlier this month, providing an additional platform for African designers to sell their high-end fashion, accessories, crafts and fine art.
Credit: Joburg City Centre via Twitter
The Marshalltown store follows the launch of the first AfricaRise store in Sandton City in October last year.
“The second AfricaRise store is a destination/tourist attraction store, where people from outside of the country and people in the city can interact with African-made garments and fine art,” Sindi explains. “It’s very important to have spaces of beauty in urban settings, and AfricaRise is the vehicle to bring African fashion, crafts, jewellery, accessories and fine art under one roof."
While led by Sindi, the luxury retail concept is a collaborative effort between Sindi and the in-house designers, who have a common goal to forge a community of innovators with a similar vision.
The Marshalltown space will feature the work of local design maestros like Sindi, David Tlale, Ephymol, Rubicon and Maria McCloy alongside designs from emerging creatives like Ezekhetho, Imprint, Nguni Brand and Siyavuya Roqoza.
What a lovely opening day ☺️.. The weather tried it �� but it was still a good & orderly day. A far cry from the launch parties one is used to hosting ���� but yall came through, masks on, 1 by 1 & even bought Art ������
— Thula Sindi (@thulasindi) August 7, 2020
As uncertain as times are I will always bet on Black ������✊�� pic.twitter.com/VnX6RTBh2r
Sindi continues, “It is important to grab as much market share as possible right now. But this has to be done in a cautious but intentional way. Every time there is a disturbance in economic activity, black business suffers the most and we are often relegated to obscurity. We need to create a new baseline for ourselves as design entrepreneurs.
"We have already figured out the impossible part – which is creating coveted items that have market relevance within an extremely crowded and hostile market. Now we must have direct access to the market. Domestic distribution is very important. We can survive any financial storm with the correct structural support, strategic nous, planning and extreme agility.”
The new AfricaRise store is located at 66 Anderson Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg. Items sold at both stores are also available at www.africariseonline.co.za.
