BERTOLA ERNESTO

The distinctive embroidery of Oasa Taradi is the result of years of careful cultivation and dedication. Unique, bold, eye-catching and well executed, the beautifully embroidered cushion covers, tablecloths, serviettes, aprons and placemats of Oasa Taradi are the finished products of underprivileged women in Namibia. ‘Oasa Taradi’ means ‘busy women’ in Nama/Damara, an indigenous Namibian language. The trust developed from a sewing project started by the Red Cross in 1989. The project engaged underprivileged Namibian women to sew and repair clothing using sewing machines donated by the Red Cross. The women involved with the project were unemployed, heads of their households, sole caretakers of their children and breadwinners of their families. In 1993, the Oasa Taradi Trust was established with the support of local and international volunteers who saw the project and the products had potential.

The !Ikhoba Textile Project was started in 1983 by sisters Heide, Karin and Ute Lacheiner on their family farm outside Otjiwarongo, in northern Namibia. !Ikhoba is the San word for the riveting Namibian antelope generally known as ‘gemsbok’ or ‘oryx’, or collectively as ‘wild animals of Africa’. The wives of the farmworkers on the farm produced unique, distinctively African embroidery, frequently inspired by African wildlife, which were in great demand and sold quickly. The Lacheiner sisters decided to create a sustainable market for the women’s embroidery products via the !Ikhoba Textile Project and collected embroidery from as many as 400 women, at one time. Each embroiderer worked at her own pace, in the comfort of her own home and produced unique, embroidery pieces which were then washed and sewn into beautiful bedspreads, T-shirts, tablecloths, wall-hangings, cushion covers and table mats to name but a few. The surface fabrics are 100% cotton and machine-washable.

Bertha Pakarae started off as a saleslady for several shops, and when her employer returned to Germany she had the opportunity to start her own business, Hunotjari. She has a wide range of bespoke babies ‘clothing made in unusual funky African fabrics, as well as ladies’ skirts, tops and handbags. Every single item is hand made with loads of love and attention to detail and designed and produced right here in Windhoek, Namibia. In addition to African clothing, Hunotjari stocks hand-made jewellery from Tameka and Heike Lukaschik, two renowned Namibian jewellers.

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