Trollbeads/Malawi Universal UniquesGiving their customers the freedom to customise their jewellery as they please, Danish brand Trollbeads is known for its interchangeable beads and charms that come in an array of gemstones, 18ct gold, sterling silver, fresh water pearls and glass in an ever-evolving collection. Trollbeads currently has 600 unique styles, and each bead created has its own look and a story behind it inspired by anything from fairy tales to familiar everyday things. The company was founded in 1976 by Lise Aagaard, when her brother Soren, a silversmith, came up with the first Trollbead having created a bead with six faces that earned it the name Troll and as customers started to request that more beads be added to their bracelets and other jewellery pieces, the name was given to the business. A family run business, up until 2000 beads were designed by the family who made the decision to invite leading jewellery designers to create collections as a way of helping to diversify the collections, and as the collection grew in popularity new locks were added to the designs to allow customers to remove and add the beads themselves. Each individually handmade, glass beads were introduced into the collection in 2002 adding a new look and feel to the brand. 2010 saw the establishment of the Trollbeads Malawi Workshop which came about when Lise brought together a group of young creative artists and taught them the skill of glass bead making over an open flame, creating the glass beads seen in the Trollbeads Uniques and Universal Uniques collections, which are a range of colourful glass beads using patterns inspired by daily life; from a woman's colourful dress to fruits piled in the market to flora and fauna. Based on a similar project that was set up in India, financial backing was provided to help the business get started, in addition to offering training in running a successful jewellery business that covered areas such as; supply chain, marketing, sales, production and designing. The workshop now employs about 12 people and is moving towards becoming an independent self-sufficient entity. The beads made in the Trollbeads Malawi Workshop are designed to fit most leading brands so you can really mix up the beads to create your own look.
Additional details: The beads come in kits priced from: £35-£210For further information about Trollbeads and the Trollbeads Malawi Workshop and to find a global stockist visit: www.trollbeadsuniverse.com
Thea Skincare Named after the Greek goddess of natural beauty, Thea Skincare is a luxurious range of products designed to feed your skin with the best pure, nutrient rich and active natural ingredients Mother Nature has to offer. Thea Skincare was founded by Althea, who coming from a background in the cosmetics industry developed a range of ethno-botanical skincare products that work to soothe, nourish and hydrate skin naturally and were inspired by a visit to Malawi and the natural, effortless beauty of Malawian women of all ages, in particular the texture and tone of their skin. During her time in the country Althea spent some time living in one of the local village and it was here that she became attuned to the soothing and healing powers of nature and the elements and took the time to learn about and experiment with blending balms, creams and oils using the naturally sourced ingredients growing in abundance. Adding to her experiences in Malawi, Althea has used her travels as a means of learning and observing centuries old tried and tested methods of plant based natural skincare regimes used by indigenous communities the world over. After returning to her home in the UK Althea developed and introduced her organic, natural range of skincare products targeting skin types of all ages and ethnicities. Products include; anti ageing and skin brightening solutions; as well as mother’s and babies, teenage and men’s ranges. To help you find the products right for your skin type a handy online ‘ skincare clinic' function is available on the website. Certified vegan friendly, Thea Skincare products are not tested on animals and are paraben free, containing no artificial fragrances and ingredients. A comprehensive list of the ingredients used and their potential benefits can be found here. …presented in simple, yet stylish packaging Thea Skincare is a celebration of enhancing beauty the natural way Additional details:
Skincare products on the website currently priced at: £5.95-£34.95
For further information about Thea Skincare and to purchase visit: www.theaskincare.com
Kaya Mawa / Lake of Stars At the moment, there seems to be a festival taking place everywhere you turn and not to be outdone Malawi will soon host what has been dubbed ‘Simply the finest festival in the world’ by noted UK leading music magazine; Q Magazine… high praise indeed! In partnership with arts and development organisations from the UK, the three-day extravaganza entitled the ‘ Lake of Stars’ has rapidly made a name for itself across the region and beyond since launching in 2004. The showcase has grown considerably over the years; attracting top musicians, DJs and artists from Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and off course Malawi as well international talent from Sweden, Canada and the UK. The award winning festival was set up as a platform promoting Malawian arts and tourism to the international world and to attract visitors to the country; aiding economic development. Along the picturesque shores of Lake Malawi; the country’s most well known tourist attraction, local and international visitors enjoy music, dance, theatre, spoken word, market stalls, film and exhibitions from over 90 notable artists, and this year the festival will be held from 30th September to 2nd October at the Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, Malawi. [Image credit: Kaya Mawa] …but all that partying can take its toll, and if a few days of ‘recuperation’ is needed head to the tranquil far north east of the Lake where you will find Likoma Island, a place covered with mango trees and ancient baobabs and encircled with white sandy beaches and rocky coves; and home to Kaya Mawa, a luxury eco lodge rated by Condé Nast Traveller magazine as one of the ten most romantic destinations. Unique in that it was built entirely by hand with no power tools; Kaya Mawa is an environmentally-friendly Lodge that was completed in 2000 after construction started in 1995 and is a place that takes community spirit seriously. Keeping things local, the workforce is drawn from the three villages that border the Lodge; from carpenters to stonemasons who assisted with the build to the Lodge staff, many of whom were involved in the construction and moved over once the Lodge was operational in a process that has built up a strong family atmosphere, one of mutual trust and respect between the villagers, owners of the Lodge and the guests who come stay. The Lodge prides itself on running on renewable energy without comprising its high standards and guests comforts; so if you really can’t bear to be totally cut off from the outside world; internet, printer, scanner and telephone access is available running on solar and wind power. Kaya Mawa is made up of ten houses ranging from standard to premium depending on the level of privicay you are seeking; two of the houses are suitable for families and a third for honeymooning guests. Large beds, stunning views of the crystal clear water, private plunge pools, foliage covered walkways and relaxing lounge areas are just some of the features available. Dine on local and international cuisine in the restaurant and reflect on past events by the bar which is perfectly situated to provide the refreshment to accompany a spectacular sunset over the Lake.
[Image credits: Kaya Mawa] Occupying one fifth of Malawi, Lake Malawi is one of Africa’s greatest lakes; the third largest in the region. At 575km long and 85km at its widest point, the Lake’s existence can be traced back to 500BC. Populated with large numbers of freshwater fish, Lake Malawi is of economic importance to the country not only drawing tourists, but is also a source of living for many Malawians; fishermen, net makers, canoe makers and of course fish traders who sell the catch to the mainland. Despite all this activity the Lake has remained relatively unspoilt, thanks to government efforts in not letting the Lake become over-commercialised and visitors can enjoy relatively un-crowded beaches, a variety of water sports and views of the spectacular birdlife including kingfisher, heron and fish eagle.
…party then relax in Malawian style Additional information sourced from: www.ecoafrica.com/africaAdditional Details:
For further information and to book visit: www.kayamawa.com
Bookings can be made via Eco Luxury, visit: www.ecoluxury.comFor further information about the Lake of Stars festival visit: www.lakeofstars.org
Nkuku Display your treasured memories with eco chic metal and wooden frames from Nkuku. Handmade in Malawi the frames shown are stylishly simple allowing your pictures to stand out. Aiming to use natural or recycled materials where possible, the frames in the Nkuku collections are produced using wood taken from sustainable forests, in addition to aluminium and other light metals. Named after a village in Zambia, Nkuku is an online retailer of stylish, handmade eco-friendly home ware, accessories and gifts and seeks to combine contemporary designs with the traditional skills of artisans in Africa and India. Built on the principles of fair trade and equal opportunity, Nkuku supports local community initiatives and works to ensure their local suppliers are paid decent wages. Nkuku also maintains close relationships with the artisans, regularly visiting supplier countries.
... see the full range online for some beautifully inspirational decor
Additional details:
Prices currently on the Nkuku website range from: £16.95-£69.95
To purchase visit: www.nkuku.com and www.ecochiccollection.co.uk
For further information about Nkuku visit: www.nkuku.com
Louis Mariette …Oh to be inside the mind of Louis Mariette, creator of fabulous bespoke hat couture, fascinators and headpieces. Dazzling, bejewelled creations take you on a journey of discovery into the wild and wonderful world of a designer who works to push the boundaries, imagining the unimaginable. [Image credits: Louis Mariette - Marcus Pummer, left; Benjamin Kaufmann, right] A highly experimental and inquisitive designer, Louis Mariette has an impeccable eye for unique style. His designs are rooted in originality and attention to detail, created to make an entrance. Born in Malawi, with Mauritian origins and growing up in Botswana and Swaziland, Louis’ childhood experiences have had a big impact on his creations, one where he would spend time exploring nature; collecting feathers, semi precious stones, seedpods, cactus flowers, and beads and trimmings from local tribes. Louis’s extravagant designs reflect his fascination with bird feathers and the incredible palette of colours and textures to be found in beetles, butterflies and dragonflies. All this ignited a passion for colour and sparkle; and influence his use of amazing trimmings such as hand-embroidered fabrics, antique embellishments, porcupine quills, feathers and semi-precious stones that are sourced from every corner of the globe.
Creations as flamboyant as the charismatic personality behind them, Louis Mariette became widely known in 2005 after creating the world’s most expensive hat, the woven platinum and diamond, Chapeau d’Amour costing a cool £1.5 million and his vivid imagination has led to such creations as the Princess Neptune hat, selected by Hong Kong Tatler as the best hat of 2008, more recently Louis was seen as a judge on Season 5 of Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model. Louis takes private commissions and has collaborations with fashion designers, celebrities and corporate business.
[Image credits: Louis Mariette - Philip Volkers] Decadent, luxury glamour… dare to wear?
Additional Details:
Prices currently on the website range from £45-£3,500
For further information visit: www.louismariette.co.uk
|
RSS Feed
