Living And Giving^® Partners With The South African Consulate To Showcase Handcrafted And Socially Responsible Products

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^® is excited to announce the addition of South African Consulate artists to the January Market. The South African Consulate will be featuring over 12 artists in booth, 8-9100and 8-9111. Exclusive South African handmade products offered, include hand-blown glass, wood carvings, wire and bead products, basket weaving, jewelry, clothing accessories and much more.

The South African artists featured at The Chicago Market produce a remarkable range of arts and crafts; from contemporary tableware, intricate bead workings, and magnificent hand painted fabric to carved wood working. Their work is ideal for any gift buyer looking to differentiate their store and brand. A highlight at the South African Consulate booth is sure to be a collection of large, commercial-sized hand-woven baskets. These baskets are a perfect fit for interior designers or home retailers looking to offer clients international high-end goods. The Chicago Market is excited to offer these high-quality and exclusive goods to its buyers.

“The Chicago Market is excited to welcome the South African Consulate and its artists to the January Market,” said Joan Ulrich, senior vice president, MMPI. “In addition to the Beckman’s™ Handcrafted Show and the Fair Trade Federation Pavilion, the inclusion of the South African artists are just one more way that the Chicago Market offers buyers and retailers high-end, quality and socially conscience handmade products.”

“This project is the result of the collaborative efforts of the South African Consulate General in Chicago, The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, Tradepoint KwaZulu-Natal and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency,” said Valentina Tomov, marketing officer South African Consulate General. “We are very pleased to introduce an exceptionally talented group of South African artisans, who will be exhibiting unique handmade products from South Africa for the very first time at the Chicago Market.”

“The South African government has long recognized the enormous potential of the craft industry for job creation and generation of income for peri urban and rural communities in South Africa. That is why our work focuses on exposing South African artisans to new markets and assisting crafters to grow their businesses via trade shows such as The Chicago Market,” said Amb. Nomvume P. Magaqa, Consul General, South African Consulate General in Chicago.

The South African Consulate artist program promotes the fusion of heritage with the future, tradition with the imagination, creativity with business know-how. The South African Consulate booth at The Chicago Market will be featuring artists from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, both provinces in South Africa.

CHICAGO MARKET: LIVING AND GIVING SHOW HOURS

Thursday, January 20 – Tuesday, January 25
Showrooms: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Floors 13, 14, 15
Saturday, January 22 – Tuesday, January 25
Temporaries and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show^®: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Floor 8
Saturday, January 22 and Sunday, January 23 – SHOP LATE NIGHT!
Showrooms: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Floors 13, 14, 15
Temporaries and Beckman’s Handcrafted Show^®: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Floor 8
Wednesday, January 26
Showrooms: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Floors 13, 14, 15

For more information on The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, please visit www.shopchicagomarket.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART).

For more information about the Tradepoint South Africa Durban (TPSA Durban), please visit www.durban.tradepoint.org.