Camion Hall welcomes new craft businesses |23 March 2005

This forms part of SEnPA's (Small Enterprise Promotion Agency) drive to maximise available space to cater for craft shops and meet its principal goal of turning Camion Hall into a centre dedicated to local craft.

Mrs Masturah Shah-Clarisse told Business Nation that as a result of fewer employees SEnPA has been able to convert three offices into shops on the upper floor. All employees have been moved to the upper wing of the building facing Premier Building.

The artisans who run the craft businesses were previously operating from their homes. They were selected for allocation at Camion Hall after they successfully met the agency's set of criteria, which stressed on creativity, quality and refined presentation, and value-added products.

Products on sale at the three shops are clear examples of the kind of products that are expected from local artisans if they put their mind to it.

At Island Things, owned by talented Art & Design graduate Noella Moodley, clients can find items made from the usual basic materials found in their surroundings, like coconut shells, bamboo, fibre and wood, but with such innovative transformation that they resemble completely new things.

Among the variety of interesting items on sale include a selection of coloured fishes carved in different sizes, good hairclips made from refined coconut shell, wooden spoons with fish-shaped handles, soaps decorated with coloured gunny fabric and flowers or seeds, well-made jean purses with shell designs, postcards or pictures framed in white gunny materials, hard cover memo books from kasi and cinnamon leaves and seeds, scented candles moulded into various shapes, spice decorative containers of different interesting shapes like tortoises and marmit (traditional cooking pot), among others.

"If you put your mind to it, you can be as productive and creative as you want," Noella told Business Nation.

Jah's Production was a hit among members of the public when it took part in December's trade fair with its coco de mer specialities. Run by Jacques-Alain Hoareau, an artisan with over two decades of experience in craft, the shop sells an intriguing and erotic collection of coco de mer-shaped artefacts of different sizes, depicting the union of the male and female. Among the items are decorative sets, earrings with pure silver fittings, chokers and key-rings that are sold in nice boxes, and a few objects made from bamboo such as belts and office set with a bamboo-made pen that actually writes.

"My design tells the story our grandparents used to tell us about the coco de mer's unique moonlight encounter," Mr Hoareau said.
Owned by Brian Monthy, Daniel's Creations focuses on fibre craft and has a series of interesting hand bags made from coconut husks and other items such as baskets, hats, bamboo lamp shades, tissue and jewellery boxes ideal for souvenirs. 

In addition to participating in monthly bazaars, Mrs Clarisse said SEnPA is also encouraging artisans to take part in fairs held on hotel premises as a means to better market their products.

She has also announced that SEnPA is currently working on a directory that will incorporate artisans, small enterprises and cottage industries. The directory will be used as a promotional tool and circulated in tourism and other public establishments.

Interested artisans are being invited to contact SEnPA to submit information about their businesses.  Artisans will also feature in SEnPA's newsletter to be launched soon. 

SEnPA, Mrs Clarisse has revealed, will soon be carrying out a survey into the craft sector on Praslin and La Digue to update its database on artisans on those two islands.