#WomensDay2018: A stitch in time…
After 30 years of operation, Kaross now employs 1300 embroiderers in the Letsitele and Giyani area, of which the vast majority are women.
Just outside of Tzaneen, there is a band of women, over 1000 strong, earning extra income by creating hand-embroidered pieces of functional art in the form of colourful and vibrant cushion covers, placemats, wall hangings and handbags.
When Irma van Rooyen and her husband Burgert started farming citrus in the Letsitele area in 1984, Irma became fascinated with the colours and cultures of the local seasonal workers.
She wanted to find a way to create an extra income for the seasonal staff and so drew upon a skill set that has been handed down to them through the generations, but was slowly being lost in the Vatsonga culture.
This skill is embroidery and Irma made it her mission to revive the skill by making it commercially viable and provide opportunities based on this pre-existing talent and wealth of experience.
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Irma is herself an artist, having studied her BA in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria. The Kaross project was born, a fusion between her love of art, finding a way to help those in seasonal work and drawing upon a skill set that is steeped in tradition.
Irma says, “The Tsonga people told me their stories and I became inspired. By their humanity, their space, their life – so utterly proud! By their eagerness to be involved and to be part of the project. These talented women and men, together, raised up the Kaross project from its humble beginnings. And now, the drive to never give up, to keep on exploring and developing and growing. And learning to be stronger, together. To you, whose path I am privileged to share. I owe you inspiration.”
The beauty of the Kaross model is that the products are hand-crafted in the homes of the workers. The embroiderers arrive at Kaross to receive the raw materials and then take the items home in order to create the product, whether it be a placemat, cushion cover, handbag or wall hanging.
Once complete, the embroiderers return to Kaross and are paid according to the number of completed pieces. The items are quality checked and the embroiderers are given incentives for supplying best quality stitching.
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This model allows for a form of individuality to be expressed in the pieces. They have a freedom and scope to experiment with colour combinations and proudly sign off each piece that they create.
After 30 years of operation, Kaross now employs 1300 embroiderers in the Letsitele and Giyani area, of which the vast majority are women.
Additionally, Kaross has recently started an Art Production Studio on the premises. Local embroiderers are invited to showcase their skills and those that show the most talent are offered a three-month contract to assist in the production of commissioned artwork pieces.
Kaross have made further investments in the community by creating the Kaross Foundation, in conjunction with the citrus farming business, Groep 91 utivoer (Pty) Ltd. The non-profit organisation aims to improve education in six local schools as well as to improve the written and spoken English of the workers on the farms.
