A new group of rising entrepreneurs have been hand-selected by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) and V&A Waterfront to join the next cohort of the Watershed Design Lab, a retail incubator run as a collaboration between the two entities.
The latest cohort comprises five emerging brands spanning babies’ sensory toys and decor, womenswear, bags and accessories. They include Tiger Lily Tots in Claremont, Thabo Makhetha at the Watershed, Lindo Leather in Khayelitsha, Meraki Accessories in Pelican Park and Shumba Bags and Accessories in Parklands.
They will undergo a 16-month training programme – also described as a living retail “laboratory”.
During this time, they will refine their products and gain essential business skills through mentorship, preparing them to thrive in a retail setting before occupying store space for a year.
This incoming group will replace outgoing brands that have since graduated from the Design Lab space after completing training and gaining real-time store experience.
The total value of sales generated by the previous cohort while stationed in the Design Lab was over R1.24 million.
The Design Lab is among the CDI’s most successful initiatives, due in no small part to its location at the Watershed, said CDI CEO Erica Elk.
She said there was something “really fresh, authentic and honest” about the products that are coming out of South Africa.
“We are particularly excited to help a new cohort of local entrepreneurs to leverage their incredible artistry into commercial success.”
Some of the designers welcomed being part of the incubator programme, and saw it as a big opportunity.
Nomava Samantha Uriyo, from Lindo Leather, said forming part of the cohort was a big opportunity, as it was a dream to be selling products in a space like the Waterfront.
Pai Kondile, from Shumba Bags, said the programme will not only be an opportunity for her, but for her employees as well as it will help with growth.
Sam Olivier, from Tiger Lily Tots, said she was excited not only for the potential sales, but also for the knowledge and the mentoring. “I really do believe that this exposure and support will contribute towards my business growth”.
Since its inception in 2021, the Design Lab has mentored a growing number of small business owners, with four to eight individuals occupying the space each year.
Alex Kabalin, executive manager of retail space at the V&A Waterfront, said showcasing the best local creative products is built into the design of the Watershed and the Watershed Design Lab programme has become an integral part the neighbourhood.
