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Last Wednesday, over 200 guests attended the launch of a unique new collaboration space in the heart of De Waterkant.
Jo Carlin, a fashion and furniture designer, is collaborating with VOICES Female Business Club, a professional networking club, to launch the 200 square-meter design space at the corner of Waterkant Street and Hudson Street, which has housed Jo Carlin Design for over five years.
Last May, VOICES founder Shelley Humphreys began searching for a new creative space for club members to use for work. She wanted a space that would evoke “a creative energy and inspiration for new ideas…which is often sorely lacking in many co-working spaces currently offered,” she said.
The collaboration space will feature a comfortable lounge furnished with Jo Carlin’s furniture, colourful art pieces on the walls and high ceilings.
Carlin and Humphreys believe that other high-end designers will be attracted to the energy and creativity of the space.
“The idea of collaborating with VOICES was very attractive, as I view myself as a creative female and enjoy being in the company of others with a similar energy and outlook,” Carlin said. “This collaboration will bring new energy and creativity into the space and I’m very excited to see what will happen.”
In addition to the collaboration space, customers can buy products in a retail space called the PopInShop.
Four other international designers will offer their products to be sold in the PopInShop – Mani Bains, Marlena Groengard, Andrea Cisari and Stuart Bishop.
Bains is a denim designer who has previously worked for Levi’s, EVISU, Wrangler and Tommy Hilfiger. For the past two years, Bains has created two high-end denim collections, DIVA Jeans and Kings of Denim.
Groengard, a Danish designer who’s lived and worked in Copenhagen, Paris, Milan and New York, will present jewellery and ostrich leather handbags.
Cisari will contribute Ross & Brown, an Italian eyewear brand established in 2013. Bishop will showcase TRIDENT, his functional and minimalistic timepiece collection.
Carlin and Humphreys plan to incorporate other designers’ products in the PopInShop throughout the year.
“We want to keep the customers engaged and coming back to see what’s new,” Humphreys said. “We want to create an experience of inspirational purchasing with value and products not easily available at other retail outlets.
The PopInShop will be open for business Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm.