From the Series
In 2007 Henriette Botha completed her studies in jewellery design and manufacture at the University of Johannesburg and pursued a lifelong dream of doing a post graduate degree in fashion design at Instituto Marangoni in Paris, France.
“After almost 3 years of working for a top fashion house in Paris I started to notice a great design movement amongst the young creatives back home in South Africa,” she recalls. “Feeling that I had gained sufficient experience it was time to come home and start my own brand. I wanted to be a part of this creative evolution, putting not only our cities on the map, but South Africa as a global creative hub.”
She packed her bags and moved back at the end of 2012 with the intention to use her jewellery knowledge in design and manufacture and combine it with the skills of local crafters.
I wanted to merge our skills and abilities to create beautiful, yet modern jewellery indigenous to South Africa, she says.
According to Botha she has taken a new and original approach to what is known as traditional African jewellery. Bold and colourful beadwork is combined with semi-precious stones and brass chain using a crocheting technique.
To ensure top quality Botha sources the highest quality materials which includes: brass plate and chain, bamboo and cotton yarn, Preciosa Czech glass beads, 100% cotton rope and semi precious stones.
I am always striving to push creative boundaries, influencing trends and maintaining the highest quality of work, she says. The idea is to use South African craft in a new and modern way, developing skill and creating jobs simultaneously.
One of her future objectives entail creating a self-sustainable community of crafters in the Johannesburg region as well as starting with community workshops in order to do skills training.
