Bottega is a fan of South African Art

Ubuhle Beads was established in 2000 on the north cost near Esenbe. Ntombephi Ntombela was doing beadwork which was being sold on the Durban beach front. All she was being paid was R50 per month, which was not nearly enough to feed her or her children. In October 2000, Ntombephi Ntombela and Bev Gibson founded Ubuhle, creating beaded jewelry which was sold to friends. Through word of mouth the business blossomed with more women being trained and uplifted by the project.

In 2002 it moved to the KZN Midlands where a retail outlet and a restaurant was established. The groups ethos was to empower women to use their skills as a means of income and to offer the necessary support to convert this remarkable talent into a marketable form. Ntombephi Ntombela is the chief beader and has taught her skills to over 200 people. Each beader is paid for the item she produces. In addition a percentage of the profit of the sales is used for social upliftment - housing, education, subsistence farming and a support program for HIV and other diseases. It also gives African woman independence and financial security.

The group of women sit around on the grass or in the bead room, laughing and chatting, while they string beads together and create their beautiful artwork. It is a far cry from what they were doing before, working in the fields or looking for jobs with no success.

Ubuhle have been recognised for their high standard of artwork and awarded important national, corporate and private commission. Click here to read more

Visit Bottega Fourways to view or buy Ubuhle Art.

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• Ubuhle

  "combining skills and resources to create art and design
  which reaches the market place without anyone being exploited"