Though there are one or two bags, like the Nguni cow hide and the in-your-face animal print bags, that hearken back to dated ideas about what constitutes African design.
All the items sold in the store are handmade in South Africa. The founder of the business, Nicola Leitch, is also driven by a social mission. According to the store’s brochure, employees can work at home, saving on childcare and transport costs, and a percentage of turnover is donated to orphanages and feeding schemes in Southern African communities.
I must mention that the sales lady in the Parkwood store is impossibly vivacious! I enjoyed the time I spent there.
African Queen stores can be found at 9 The Parks, corner of Jan Smuts and Wells in Parkwood Johannesburg and Shop 4 Gowrie Village Nottingham Road KZN Midlands.
Links
http://www.africanqueen.co.za/
All pictures by African Queen.