Namibia has more talent than it does square kilometres of desert or any surface space for that matter. And damn, it’s sexy. Especially given that craftsmen and creators are as abundant as our country’s sunshine, Namibia is undoubtedly a bottomless reservoir for handmade treasures.
©Annelien Murray
But a country does not run on solar energy and talent alone. Given the current worldwide situation that has brought our booming travel industry to an abrupt halt, the economy is inevitably suffering. It is in this light that shopping local should become everybody’s go-to, if it hasn’t always been. Now, more than ever, locals are encouraged to rediscover and support local businesses from designers and eateries, to cultural organisations and markets.
The Namibia Craft Centre needs no introduction in Namibian circles. Located in the heart of Windhoek next to another local favourite, the Warehouse Theatre, it has become known as the leading retail space in the country for handmade crafts, gifts and curios. It brings together national talent under one roof to create a platform for women-owned or community-driven craft enterprises that hail from rural communities. Thus, by supporting the Namibia Craft Centre, you are supporting the core offering of Namibian talent.
©Namibia Craft Centre
Looking for your next birthday, baby shower, or Father's Day gift idea? Get creative on your next trip to the Namibia Craft Centre. Help stimulate the local economy and keep business booming within your local region and country.
The hand-picked handicraft includes fabric prints, clothing, high-quality leather products, as well as intricate jewellery and rare art pieces made from ostrich egg shells. But that is not even half of the products available here. You will find the highly sought-after hand-woven baskets ideal to style any space – whether in a home or a business. Certain artworks draw inspiration from Namibia’s stark environment, her cultures and the vibrant cities that all become visible through the designs made of any material available – mopane wood, desert sand, newspapers and beer cans.
©Namibia Craft Centre
When it comes to jewellery, options extend way beyond diamonds that put Namibia on the international map many moons ago. Other treasures produced by Mother Nature are formed through crystallisation and geological processes. The result is a plethora of minerals and gemstones in various shapes, textures, details and incredible colours. Crystallisation requires the following for these treasures to come into existence:
- Ingredients – numerous and complex minerals eventually result in crystals
- Temperature - it needs to be hot enough and then it needs to drop at some point (like desert temperatures).
- Pressure – proof that pressure is not always a bad thing.
- Time – yes, yes, good things take time.
- Space – we can relate; we all need space to grow.
©Annelien Murray
(Read more here about the formation of crystals.)
When it comes to local shopping, we have no reason to sell ourselves short. We have all the right ingredients that sometimes simply need to be combined. Temperature-wise we know that winter is coming, but at least our sunshine and blue skies will not disappear. Pressure? Yes, the economy is under immense pressure – just like every other country at this point in time. Speaking of time, slowing down is sometimes necessary, which is what the world has been forced to do for the past couple of months. When it comes to space, well, Namibia has space aplenty! So why not embark on a local adventure?
Whether like a piece of tourmaline, topaz, aquamarine, garnet, jasper, pietersite, crystal quartz, or amethyst (the list is ongoing), Namibia can shine with the support of her people.
©Markus Frank-Schultz
We recommend stopping by the Namibia Craft Centre to discover the vast variety available on their shelves. They have already combined all the ingredients, which makes it as easy as baking brownies with an Ina Paarman’s premix. Piece of cake. Speaking of which, if you haven’t tried their delectable cakes, now is the time. The menu variety extends way past that and welcomes hungry shoppers.
Local is lekker. Local is alles.
Author – Annelien Robberts is an avid wordsmith who turns her pen to all things travel, culture, and lifestyle. She was born in a small town called Otjiwarongo and grew up on a farm nearby. Creativity, nature and animals make her happy.
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