An interview with maker Quazi Design as part of our 'Get to Know...' series.
Tell us a little about yourself and your business…
My name is Doron, and I am the founder of Quazi Design, a small business based in eSwatini, Southern Africa, where I lived for 10 years. The enterprise is based on sustainable design for social impact, working with local artisans using 100% waste paper. I recently founded a little sister business where I may clothes in Bristol and also collaborate with artisans making clothing using batik farbric.
Where are you based?
Bristol
Tell us a secret about you?
I secretly just wanted to make clothes for myself and thats how it all started!
How do you make your work?
Our earrings are made from 100% waste paper, using various unique techniques, like layering paper to bring it back to wood, or adding brass and paper pulp like gemstones. All materials are water based and the paper is dried in the sun. The clothing uses a beautiful technique called Batik, where you apply wax onto fabric and then dye it, and where the wax is its resists the dye. I love the handmade nature of all these techniques, the one of a kind aspect of slow making.
Describe your studio…
We have a workshop situated in the capital of Mbabane in eSwatini, in the industrial area. Its a large open space, with plenty of natural light, the african sun shining outside in the drying area and plenty of shade to work in outside. Its messy, real, loud, chaotic and beautiful. A place to come together, share stories, collaborate, eat rice and chicken and make beautiful things.
Tell us about your materials - where do you source them from and are they important to you?
Yes very important, our waste paper comes from the distributors, we get some unsold newspapers and magazines. We only use 100% waste, so all products are recycled. We also use local clay, ochre, pigment to dye the paper and eco varnish. Our fabric is cotton sourced from Africa and dyed by the artisans in their small workshop in Ghana and eSwatini.
Why is it important to you that your work is made as responsibly and sustainably as possible?
Designers have a responsibility. The current fashion industry isn’t working, there is exploitation, slavery and huge environmental impact as we have spread ourselves over the earth, and used or burned just about everything that’s easy to get.
There is great potential in ethical fashion, to make beautiful things that have a positive story.
How and why did you start your small business?
We need to create new business models, new perspectives, not about growth but about celebrating the artisan and involving the consumer in the process. I love making, I love creating, its part of my identity, and I wanted to create employment, and meeting these women in Africa it was a dream come true to use my skills for social impact. Craft is the anti-dote to our modern lives, our disconnect.
Any fun facts about your business, or achievements you want to shout about?
After so many years renting our workshop we have finally bought a piece of land in eSwatini and we will be building our very own workshop! Designed by myself (no idea what Im doing but loving it) and built locally, using the sun to create a solar powered drying room. Daunting and exciting!
What do you love most about your small business and do you have a favourite piece of work?
I love that I get to wear clothes I made. I love my latest collection of batik clothing, the more colourful the better, I have been wearing my pink jacket wherever I can, and my clay and black trousers are a staple in my closet.
What do you think are the benefits of people supporting independent business?
The connection with artists and designers in your community, the support you are giving, knowing that you have something original, unique, that came from a maker directly to you is priceless. Plus, its something with soul, beyond following trends, its always going to be in fashion.
Tell us about your favourite purchase from a fellow maker. What is it and who made it?
I love trading with fellow makers, so if anyone is out there and wants to trade please get in touch! I recently made a jumpsuit for a massage. And I swapped a jumpsuit for a print by Rosanna Morris which I love.
What are your favourite things about PRIOR - both as a customer and a supplier?
The human centered way its run, it has both heart and innovative business systems in place, in awe of what you have achieved, and how you are managing to stand against fast fashion on the same street! Absolutely incredible. Impressed with the business decisions, the problem solving, the openness, the transparency and how they take everyone along with them on this ride....amazing.
Do you have a goal for where you’d love your business to be in the future?
Small is beautiful. Sustainable is beautiful. I want to have my own dream garden studio in the UK next. Once we have built the one in eSwatini. I want to collaborate more, have more interns, open up the community.
View Quazi Design's handmade collection at Prior Shop here.
