The Rosebank Art & Craft Market is where you can find some of the most inspiring vendors who during the lockdown, like many others, found themselves without an income. These extraordinary artists earn a living selling their meticulously crafted, hand-made beadwork. Each vendor has an intriguing story to tell about the journey which led them to the two-storey location, a journey which was fuelled by an unquenchable thirst for making something good out of their lives.
Greet them by name and encourage them for their unbelievable talent and perseverance when you visit this treasure trove. This is a place where locals can support not only local by the micro-economies within a space which is held together by hope and determination.
One of the vendors at the market, Thoko Jane Nkabinde is 32 years old. She hails from Mpumalanga kwaNdebele – where colour and culture collide. Thoko took over her mother’s successful business after she sadly passed away in January this year. Her mother, Anna Masemola, built her bead business from scratch. It took her many years. Before starting her bead business, Thoko’s mother sold mealies to pedestrians and, just like Aletta, she was fascinated when she saw other informal traders working on their beaded creations between sales. It completely changed her life. Thoko’s mother did so well that she managed to build several houses and rented out the rooms. It was this entrepreneurial spirit that empowered her to take care of the whole family. Now, Thoko wants to keep her mother’s legacy alive with the beading skills she inherited, a gift from one generation to the next which will continue to provide.
The shopping experience at the Rosebank Art & Craft Market offers the ideal opportunity for locals and visitors from outside our borders to discover these colour-rich treasures, to stroll the walkways and be inspired, to admire the imagination and skill that goes into each intriguing product, and to shop with a conscience, knowing that supporting these vendors builds sustainable livelihoods for many households.
The market is open seven days a week and the entrance can be found on Cradock Avenue just outside the Woolworths entrance of Rosebank Mall. It is a ‘Support Small Business’ concept, offering a rich diversity of authentic and proudly African products at affordable local prices.
