A GIFT IN THE WILD - AFRICAN MARKET EXPERIENCE FOR ENGAGE!24 - AT THE ROYAL LIVINGSTONE
A 14-day/night sprint, my most intense production timeline yet!
One of the most challenging aspects of designing and curating authentic African gifts for luxe events falls far beyond clearly defined lines. Often overlooked by the grandeur of the pieces on display are the countless hours spent in preparation for the creation of the ultimate attendee experience.
Ok so let me take it back to the beginning way before it all came together. When I first got the call about Engage Summits, I remember going through endless reports and emails on site work for the Chifwema Homestead interior I was currently working on at the time.
Truth be told, I wasn't sure exactly how we were going to pull this off, 5000+ products in 2 weeks? Yikes! The vision I had for the attendee shopper experience was to bring the elements in Zambian design that have made me fall in love with sustainable design hinged on a positive social impact, doing it my way, the Saucy Mukosa Way; Hand crafting Earthy Pieces for the Wild, Conscious and Adventurous Soul.
Impacting a total of 450 persons, my team worked with 15 Zambian Artisan collectives/teams across, Lusaka, Southern and Eastern provinces as well as Botswana to produce 'A Gift in the Wild'; a bustling market infused with a contemporary, pristine, and lavish touch, showcasing exquisite, handcrafted goods.
This was a daunting yet rewarding task, from planning and design to production and curation, the goal was to remain true to who we are, UBUNTU and you already know we would bring our best-selling pieces as well as new collaborative designs. Read more on the artisans here.
THE MARKET AESTHETIC
BOLD EARTHY
Starting with a minimalist 2-3 tier base covered in natural fibres and grain, The Royal Livingston stone terrace grounds will be characterized by clusters of gifts pick up stations spread across the landscape in an organic flow to mimic the natural market flow of the Zambia’s SOWETO Market.
Key features to include:
- Simplicity in spatial flow.
- A warm neutral colour palette.
- Organic materials like wood, stone and foliage for props and styling.
- A layered look combining old and new elements for depth, and interest.
Among the list of gifts on display were:
IMITI (WOODEN) - Signature Saucy Mukosa
Timeless hand carved cooking and serve ware in rich burls, grain and tone inspired by cultural dance, folklore and literature handcrafted by Rural Zambian Artisans.
BILA (WEAVE) - Best-selling Ready to Wear and Home Range
Bold and neutral patterns in 100% sustainable cotton, leaves and roots Hand woven using traditional Zambian weaving methods from the East, the ‘Lenga’ scarves and blankets are the perfect comfort for the planner on the go.
BUMBA - Pottery and Ceramics
3 generations Zambian ceramicists stationed in Gaborone, Botswana, Gabane Pottery fuses contemporary design with hand painted traditional Zambian motifs boasting intricate detailing and precision in their signature emerald green and terracotta.ULENDO (TRAVEL) - Lemba Journal
Travel essentials for the soul on the go- hand stitched in rich, luxurious tones in meticulous finish. After stitching over 150 of these journals by hand with my sister, we discovered just how much elbow grease goes into binding each page to a cover—who knew bookmaking was a workout?! But let me tell you, it turned into one epic bonding adventure that was basically therapy in disguise.
Looking, our growth, drive, and can-do spirit turned this project into a whirlwind of fun and inspiration! And let’s be real, there’s nothing quite like the high of crafting something fabulous from scratch. I’m still buzzing with disbelief that we actually pulled this off!
