Zulu Mien is dedicated to the women we work with and we exist to serve them to the best of our ability.
We are a social enterprise started to support rural women artisans / crafters in South Africa. Zulu Mien is based on the market intermediary model of social enterprise that provides services to its target population or clients, small producers, to help them access markets. Our clients are small production groups of women artisans.
Zulu Mien offers services to add value to our client-made products. We offer product development, production and marketing assistance, costing and pricing, quality control and more. We purchase the client-made products outright and then sell them in various markets.
The social program is the business. Our mission centers on strengthening markets and facilitating our clients' financial security by helping them develop and sell their products.
The Rhubhani Craft Project
The Rhubhani craft group are based in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga and are a group of incredibly talented master beaders. Most of the group members have been beading since childhood.
The group was started by Elsie Bahlezi Mahlangu and both she and her sister Rosina Mapholi Ntuli keep the group busy with orders.
The Rhubhani group are the first to work with Zulu Mien. Our aim is to include more production groups as we grow.
Zulu
The Zulu are the most well known of the Nguni tribes of Southern Africa. Whilst our jewelry is comprised of all the styles and techniques used by the Nguni tribes, we have chosen to name ourselves after the Zulu. Zulu being a recognition word - is recognised across the globe.
Mien (pronounced meen)
Your mien is how you present yourself, the impression you make. It's best to keep a low profile but a dignified mien. A person's mien is a look or quality that tells a lot about their personalities or temperaments. A person with a cheerful mien probably radiates happiness and energy, while someone with a serious mien may have an air of being lost in thought.
Unique Features
Beadwork is produced by hand without the use of a loom or any other tools, and each bead is individually sewn into the pattern by hand. The highest quality glass beads are used in the production process. We use the best quality beading thread that does not fray.
Zulu
The Zulu are the most well known of the Nguni tribes of Southern Africa. Whilst our jewelry is comprised of all the styles and techniques used by the Nguni tribes, we have chosen to name ourselves after the Zulu. Zulu being a recognition word - is recognised across the globe.
Mien (pronounced meen)
Your mien is how you present yourself, the impression you make. It's best to keep a low profile but a dignified mien. A person's mien is a look or quality that tells a lot about their personalities or temperaments. A person with a cheerful mien probably radiates happiness and energy, while someone with a serious mien may have an air of being lost in thought.
Unique Features
Beadwork is produced by hand without the use of a loom or any other tools, and each bead is individually sewn into the pattern by hand. The highest quality glass beads are used in the production process. We use the best quality beading thread that does not fray.
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