Come and Shop!

Hey there!
As we begin to market aklala stateside here is a taste of what we will have to offer!
Feel free to mingle and dance around in the colors of Africa!

aklala 2009 catalog ~sacs~

aklala 2009 catalog ~autres~

Why settle for just one color. aklala patches together many patterns to offer a rainbow of colors available in a cute new hobo bag. Get your groove on!

Chantal discussing an order with a client from France who's mother's business purchased the remaining inventory at the end of the FESPACO international trade show in March to market in France.

Business is Blooming Colors

So things are moving along well in the progression of aklala batik. Chantal and the women have never ceased to amaze me as I get ready to leave Togo at the end of my 2 year service facilitating her creation and growth. Not only do I feel as if I have accomplished what I came here to achieve, I have also aided in encouraging the capacity now found in Chantal and the others who work alongside her.

Etonam and Beatrice start the production for an order  for a US client.  Chantal and the women of aklala have been able to secure many international orders for their bags due to honoring a commitment to share a bit of their culture with others and do so in great style!

Etonam sews together pieces of batiked cloth to form the patchwork fabric to make into bright and cheerful bags.

Chantal's son Eli, the "smallest tailor" strikes a pose for me as I photograph their newest investment, an embroidery machine made possible by increased revenue. Chantal felt that it would be wise to offer more services locally while having the capacity to create new products from it's use. She employed the local embroiderer to run the machine where she used to order the service for her clients. Now others come to her for the same needs.

Chantal works on the terrace of her new workshop and boutique which has helped bring in additional profits during the tourist season.

Growth is on the Horizon

She waits for no one.

Chantal walks to one of the many buildings she will construct in her hopes to create a large batik workshop that will offer jobs in local trades and stimulate the economy through the marketing and sale of aklala's products. Her company, aklala batik, is only just over a year old but she has the wind in her sails and never ceases to move forward. With my help and her motivation we have witnessed the opportunities of growth. She has already contributed to her own development financially from the revenue collected from the sale of her products.

This is the first building on the future site where aklala batik will install its operations and open it's doors to a host of possibilities for the future of Togo and the inhabitants of Kpalime. I worked with Chantal on the budget detailing her plans to expand and allow her newly successful enterprise to assist others locally by creating a space to house and employ orphans and young women and men interested in learning the trades of sculpture, batik and tailoring. This opportunity will provide them the skills to work within Togo's trade economy.

I wrote the proposal this past January. Since I was too close to the finish of my service here as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I took a pause to reflect on other ways to assist her before she took on such a grand scale development. I also had a desire to return to the needs of my assigned post and implement a few community wide projects. I wanted her to reflect upon her goals and the mission of the project before launching the proposal in search of funding. Here is a summary of her goals within the development of aklala.

Project Goals

• Construction of a workshop, training center, storefront, and housing to aid in the education and employment of orphans and underprivileged individuals from Kpalime and surrounding villages.
• Promotion of batik artistry and tourism through organized, short-term classes.
• Creation of jobs in Kpalime.
• Expansion of Aklala Batik's capacity through trained staff and sustainable business structure.

Populations Directly Benefiting

• Orphans and underprivileged children and adults who have no means of support living in and around the Kpalime region.
• Local entrepreneurs who seek partners in order to access more of the market.
• Local youth who are interested in learning a skilled trade at a low cost, through weekly formations or year-long programs.
• Tourists can benefit from taking classes in the traditional crafts of the region and learning the skilled trades of the country allowing more cross-cultural experiences and collaboration.
• Community development through the promotion of skilled trades, allowing for increased revenue from tourism.
• 
  Current Community Contribution on the part of Aklala Batik and others
• Plot of land purchased for the construction of the center
• Professional artists and skilled trainers available to teach others valuable trades at little or no cost.
• Labor to aid in the construction of the center.
• Responsibility for paying all utilities associated with the operation and upkeep of the center and lodging facilities through revenue of product sales, training sessions, and tourist lodging fees.
• Batik equipment, sewing machines and supplies, as well as furnishings currently used by Aklala Batik to aid in the completion of the workroom.

Since my work began with her in March of 2008, we have created an enterprise, a successful brand of marketable handbags and accessories, and opened up possibilities to touching a world market from attending international trade shows in the promotion of aklala batik du Togo. She had all the skills and creative drive, all it took was a bit of counseling from me and some guidance from the 4 years I spent in my past career as a product designer in Chicago. Through it all I have discovered that the satisfaction I feel in my service has come from her rapid growth and development, mostly through watching her confidence rise. This was what I wanted to do during my service, help international artists promote themselves through guided development and marketing practices. I could not have felt more fulfilled. Helping her and others in this manner has increased my confidence in my own success as an entrepreneur. Though the largest benefit comes from getting that "feel good feeling," knowing that you just made the life of someone a bit better by showing them the way to grow.

Maybe someday I'll be in Chantals place and sell my own products created by my own two hands, but for now there are many more talented people out there that just need the little bit of guidance and promotion to help themselves do the same. I will continue to promote these talented individuals by assisting in their marketing and development by finding fair trade outlets and distribution possibilities to allow for people worldwide to experience the creations of cultures far and wide.

Like the Chinese Proverb states:

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

In my work with Chantal this proverb has been proved as I have seen her take responsibility for her own affairs and grow little by little, using her own capital. Since I have seen her bring herself this far, I know a little bit of financial assistance can take her further to helping others pull themselves up and remove their dependence on others. In my time here working in development I have never believed in the system of handing out money, knowing that it only creates dependence. I've seen it here in a country where a lack of organizational development by way of the government has forced many Togolese to demand support from other countries, stating that the local means have been long exhausted.

so...What's New?

Here's a brief glimpse at the latest goods from the creative spirits of aklala batik...

stacks of batik patterns

pagne pagne pagne...batik fabrics is a rainbow of colors

Sac kangol with it's many pouches

Sac arc-en-ciel clutch with tropical hardwood rod handles

all of the many styles and colors of aklala

a selection of bright and funky accessories handmade from dye to construction all here in Togo

It’s Official! Open for Business!

Chantal in her new retail location and workroom

Chantal and the women of aklala batik have moved out of their cramped one room workshop in the living room of Chantals home and are now professionally established in their own atelier. This move will allow her to open up her business to numerous other visitors as well as market her products in a public location. The space is neatly tucked between her home and the plot of land where she intends to build the large center. This will allow her and the other women to occupy the children and at the same time have some space to work free of distractions. It will also allow her to advertise her affairs and be available for formations in batik and design given to tourists. All in time for the first high tourist season in Togo, Easter Holiday when many French tourists arrive on their spring break.
It’s location is just off one of the main roads in Kpalime that leads to the Artisinal Center as well as many favorite restaurants (Chez Lazare, Macumba, Au Fermier) and hotels (Hotel Geyser). Finally, those who have heard of her work will now know where to go to get a hold of the latest styles. The first day they opened the space there were already new clients who arrived interested in her affaires. It is amazing the rate at which her enterprise has grown in the short year I have been working with her.

Batik cloth decorates the walls of the workshop.

At ease and comfortable in the new space.

All is good..when it comes to development.

Not only has she established herself in a proper work location, she has also organized the opening of a boutique on the other side of town with other local artists who have formed an association through their combined participation in numerous trade shows. The group is composed of Master Carpenter, Fo. NoNo; Experienced Sculptor, Tsevie; Skilled Batiker, Yao Kokoroko, and Chantal of aklala batik. They have formed a strong team of individual artists who collaborate by contracting each other’s skills, sharing exhibition fees, and offering creative and business consulting to one another. The work ethic and integrity of the group will allow them to touch external markets in the near future. This much… I am sure of.

The gang and I in front of thier boutique location

Batik Paintings by Yao amongst aklala's bags and Tsevie's sculptures.

Aklala Case Study

Learn all about Aklala du Togo from our new Case Study in Artisanal Entrepreneurial Development.

FESPACO 2009

Billboard detailing the events of FESPACO located in the gallery of artists.

So we are back from the second trade show where aklala batik has participated in their promotion. It was a great time for us both and I have new hopes and aspirations for their development. There, aklala batik saw a 15% return on thier investments through sales and interest in their products. I see a world of oportunities opening up for them.

Chantal and I flashing our pearly whites

FESPACO, (the huge pan-African international film festival) was in it's 40th year. This celebration brought in many Africans as well as Foreigners from the coast of West Africa to Europe. There was also a large concentration of American Peace Corps volunteers who were posted in many of these areas. It was a great way to fully engage in exploring all the cultures represented in West Africa.
The trade show (Galerie Marchande) was held at the Maison du Peuple grounds located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This space is devoted to the promotion of musical events and artisan activities amongst other community venues. Its location was just a short walk from many FESPACO sites holding cinematography events including Cine Burkina, where the majority of the films were shown. Artisans, agricultural producers, and business men and women alike all gathered to try to cash out on the flux of tourist activity that FESPACO brought in.
I spent 3 days with Chantal in aklala's stand and was able to fully examine the scope of possibilities available to her through the incurred interest in their products. We pretty much bonded through the event and time spent together. There were many of my PCV friends from Togo there, and even though I did get a chance to catch an evening flick, I focused my involvement on her affairs. I was also excited to meet many new artisan friends as well as reacquaint myself with those I had previously met at SIAO in November. I am confident that aklala will continue to be a success in the future and hope to continue my work with her and many other amazingly talented artists of West Africa and beyond.

Here are some pics from the event...

An overview of the trade fair grounds

aklala's booth at FESPACO

aklala batik, well represented through the development of sewn in logo tags, labels, and marketing materials.

After a lesson in jewelry making, Chantal whipped out new merchandise to sell alongside the batik.

aklalas spring line

Bag details and new styles

sharing ideas with an interested buyer

Growth..one brick at a time...

Chantal on her plot of land of which she dreams to build aklala batik workroom and boutique

The brick marking her plot of land

So many of you are aware of aklala batik's progress through creating a line of marketable hand bags and accessories out of the traditional batiked fabric of West Africa. In her development she still lacks the capital to expand her operations to a adequate workspace to house all the talented individuals who assist in the production. Currently, she works out of her two room space in a housing compound with 4 other families. There is a large amount of interested individuals that ask to work with her but the space is limited. With an emerging interest in her products both locally and in the US, she is searching out possible donors available to finance her expansion efforts.

Last year in March she had purchased a plot of land for the construction of a workshop and boutique located in her town. Centered around the expansion, is a plan to offer training in batik and sewing to those who are unable to pay the high inscriptions fees for an apprenticeship, particularly young orphaned women and men. In turn, she would have the assistance to meet the current demands of her customers. A portion of the revenue from the sales of aklala's products would help finance the housing and training for these orphans and underprivileged persons while at the same time offering free training to aid in their independence and development. Once they have completed the training they would be offered paid positions with aklala batik that would allow them to support themselves, allowing for a new flux of individuals interesting in learning and practicing a skilled trade to arrive.

I am in the process of helping her construct a plan for this expansion, including a business plan detailing her mission and vision statement. I will be submitting this proposal through the Peace Corps Partnership Program in an effort to generate financial support from family and friends stateside. Please keep checking this site if you are interested in supporting her efforts. Here is a

brief summary of the proposal...

Background
Kpalime, situated in the Plateau Region of Togo, serves as one of Togo's top tourist destinations and hosts a rich community of artisans. The artistic community plays a large role in the development of the town bringing in large amounts of tourists during the summer and holiday months. Yet, with a growing population of over 65,000 and a weak economy, Kpalime continues to struggle with unemployment, corruption and poverty.
There is a large population of orphans living in and around Kpalime. Many children are taken in by willing households but still receive little financial support for their education and development. They are most often found working for the family who was kind enough to give them a place to live, staying at the home doing a wide variety of chores. They will live a life destined to remain dependent on others and will have very little opportunity to succeed in a skilled trade or profession.
With a concentration of artisans, Kpalime offers apprenticeships in a wide range of crafts at private and public training centers. However, these training programs are expensive, costing 200,000 CFA or more (approximately $100). When the average family supports itself on $2 a day, such an investment is outside the reach of many young men and women—especially for orphans who were lucky enough to have found a home. Aklala Batik's technical training center and workshop would grant free apprenticeships to orphans and give them an opportunity to learn a trade and support themselves.

Project Goals
Construction of a workshop, training center, storefront, and housing to aid in the education and employment of orphans and underprivileged individuals from Kpalime and surrounding villages.

Promotion of batik artistry and tourism through organized, short-term classes.
Creation of jobs in Kpalime.

Expansion of Aklala Batik's capacity through trained staff and sustainable business structure.

Populations Directly Benefiting
Orphans and underprivileged children and adults who have no means of support living in and around the Kpalime region.

Local entrepreneurs who seek partners in order to access more of the market.

Local youth who are interested in learning a skilled trade at a low cost, through weekly formations or year-long programs.

Tourists can benefit from taking classes in the traditional crafts of the region and learning the skilled trades of the country allowing more cross-cultural experiences and collaboration.

Community development through the promotion of skilled trades, allowing for increased revenue from tourism.

Here are some images of Chantal on the future site of her workshop. She is making plans to start the construction little by little through the revenue generated by local sales, but searches support in getting the construction into full swing.

The site

and a pile of bricks..to build the center

Chantal and business partner No-no researching the site of a potential temporary exhibition hall.

Burkina Faso part deux!

Just months after her first debut at an international trade show in Burkina Faso last year, Chantal and aklala batik du Togo is back and better than ever. She will be exposing her new line of products in Ouagadougou at an organized artisinal show in conjunction witht he huge Pan-African film festival FESPACO. Through granted permission of my PC director, I will be there there on the side lines watching her progression and assisting in the facilitation. I am so proud of the efforts made by her and the other talented and motivated people of Kpalime she works with.

Felicitations aklala !

This season's newest products...from books to shoes...everything gets covered in batik!

hardcover notebooks in all different sizes, the notebooks are handmade in Ghana then covered in aklala batiks colorful fabrics

New logos on sewn in labels adorne all the products. Important to brand your products!

A cute cap perfect for a dame or gent

aklala's shoe boutique. Hand tailored sandals in numerous styles for men and women

New! sac su soiree for those evening rendevous