Winners of Thuthuka Jewellery competition

The programme is a partnership between the Department of Arts and Culture and various jewellery design schools, industry and community groups to contribute to the design abilities of young talented designers wanting to enter the jewellery trade in South Africa. This year, entrants came from the University of Johannesburg Jewellery Design Department, Ekurhuleni Jewellery School and the Central University of Technology Jewellery School in Virginia (Free State).

"While institutions such as UJ are traditionally stronger in training on technique and have an internationally recognised programme, student attending the less well-resourced community facilities have shown significant design talent through their work that is on a par with their university counterparts. This sort of competition bridges a gap that allows both the students and public to be exposed to this sort of cross pollination, which is critical to development of a sector," says founder and executive director, Carola Ross.

Winners

• Achievement Award (Third Year Students) - Caroline Turner from UJ. In 2010, she was the winner of the Innovation Category. "The inspiration for my button was a snowflake- largely because of its shape and the opportunities it offered to play with line and layers. The crystal formations were interpreted in terms of line and the negative spaces created by the reinterpretation thereof. The aim was to incorporate space into the piece by means of a light wire frame to form a piece, as delicate and unique as a snowflake. Once the button was complete, it suggested the form of the jewellery piece, 'declaring' itself as a ring and requiring only a little altering of the circle form to make the transition," says Turner of her design. Also recognised in this category were:

  • Musawenkosi Mlangleni from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Highly Commended;
    
  • Thomas Mosala from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Commended;
    
  • Delphine Joustra from UJ - Merit;
    
  • Michelle Evans from UJ - Merit
    
  • Charlie Radebe from Central University of Technology Jewellery School - Merit

• Innovation Award (Second Year Students), Nikiwe Mathebula from UJ. Nikiwe's work was inspired by forms found in nature to inspire an organic button design. Additional winners in the category are:

  • Lebohang Portia Shezi from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Highly Commended;
    
  • Sipho Mtiki from Central University of Technology Jewellery School - Commended;
    
  • Atela Thamahane from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Merit;
    
  • Chanel Etsebeth from UJ - Merit
    
  • Kenneth Theletsane from Central University of Technology Jewellery School - Merit.

• New Talent (First Year Students), Khulekani Nkala from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School. The work was inspired by casinos and gambling. Says Nkala, "I tried to find the silver lining in this bad habit and create wearable everyday pieces." Other winners in this category include:

  • David Constabul from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Highly Commended;
    
  • Lerato Morena Mokoena from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Highly Commended;
    
  • Janci Bisschoff from UJ - Commended;
    
  • Billy Matsoso from UJ - Merit;
    
  • Niel MacDonald from UJ - Merit Award;

  • Pule Lloyd Manoni from Ekurhuleni Jewellery School - Merit

Judges

A panel of respected independent judges including selects the winners in each category.

• Liz Loubser, (chief judge) jeweller and manufacturer
  
• Lawrence Marè, CEO of the Jewellery Council of South Africa
  
• Heidi Pretorius, marketing consultant for Anglo American Ashanti
  
• Tiaan Nagel, fashion designer
  
• Sarah Buitendach, editor, Sunday Times Home at Avusa Media Supplement Division
  
• Labi Kapo, trainer of young jewellers
  
• Masana Chikeka representative from the Department of Arts and Culture

With the Department of Arts and Culture's focus on job creation in the cultural industries, the programme teaches the participants to apply the many production techniques, in particular, design skills learnt and apply them to the design of homeware and tableware as well as unique jewellery. This is to expose the young participants to other income generation possibilities. The competition has gained a reputation amongst jewellery design students and the public, as the benchmark for innovation and excellence in this industry.