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

Aklala's debut at SIAO

SIAO 2008, Salon International de l'Artisinat de Ouagadougou~ Burkina Faso

Chantal at aklala batik's debut SIAO, Burkina Faso 2008

Me (Megan Rhodes PCV Togo 2007-2009) at SIAO talking with an Artisan from Mail.

read all about aklala batik in the following publications

Home décor and fashion accessory producers, buyers prepare for SIAO
by Julianna White ~ Tradewinds (USAID's WATH publication) english

Les producteurs et les acheteurs de décorations et d’accessoires de mode se préparent pour SIAO
par Julianna White ~ Tradewinds (USAID"S West African Trade Hub publication)french

SIAO 2008: Connecting producers and buyers is key Tradewinds ~ By Joe Lamport

SIAO 2008 : Mettre en rapport les producteurs et les acheteurs est essentiel Tradewinds ~ par Joe Lamport

Read the full story here...
A Case Study in Artisanal Entrepreneurial Development
Megan Rhodes PCV
Small Enterprise Development 2007-2009
Togo, West Africa


“In my afternoon walk I would fain forget all my morning occupations, and my obligation to society. But it sometimes happens that I cannot easily shake off the village. The thought of some work will run in my head, and I am not where my body is; I am out of my senses.”

- Henry David Thoreau

Brochures and Catalogs

Publications in English

Case Study

Brochures and Flyers

Order Form

Publications en Français

Rapports et brochure

On y va a SIAO

Here are some marketing materials from the debut of Chantal and the women batikers of Kpalime, Togo. Aklala Batik du Togo makes it's first appearence at SIAO, www.siao.bf in Ouagadoudou Burkina Faso this fall.

How it's done

Here is a little photo journey through the processes of batiking. Chantale and the other women will spend multiple days just dyeing the cloth to prepare it to be sewn into bags and clothes. Most of the tools they use are quite primitive since there is a lack of advanced technology. This lack, in turn helps preserve the handcrafted quality of a tradition that has been passed down through generations.
Chantale has learned these techniques through an apprenticage (as many artisans here follow). Now, she has taught the women who assist her the same skills. It is her hope that she can move the production to a more proper location by constructing and opening a shop in her town. Since she works from home, she has little space to make a large production. This also presents difficulties in tending to the wandering hands of the small children, to prevent them from harming themselves. She has prepared a budget for the work of building a shop and boutique, and hopes to find sources for funding along the way. Her dream is to have a place to employ other villagers as well as orphans, teaching them skills to aid in their support.

She is also in the process of creating goods to debut at the Salon International de l'artisanat de Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso this November. This will be the first time she will have opened her product out to international buyers. She still has a long way to go in creating a name for herself and the other women who work alongside her, but she has the guts and drive to make it happen.

So here's how it's done .....in Togo

well at least for now...here's a snapshot...full slideshow to come later...

Powdered dyes are hand mixed to create bright and beautiful colors

Wax and hot water is heated over wood and coal cookstoves to be used in the process.

Chemical reactives are added to make the color fix to the cotton. Some are also used to create a variety of color tones.

The cloth is then stamped with wax using a wooden or foam stamp to preserve the underlaying color. A single cloth can go through numerous color baths, using wax to save each color in the layer.

The cloth is then laid on the ground to dry between colorings.

Some prints are entirely coated in wax to then be dunked in a reactive color that will give the tissue a marbelized look as the colors mix between the cracked wax.

Once the color is set, the fabric is then dunked in a hot bath with a solvent that will help release the wax from the tissue.

After the bath, the cloth is shaken and snapped to remove any leftover wax and then hung on the line to dry in the hot African sun.

Once the fabric is dyed, dried and pressed it is then sewn using a foot-pedal machine into bags, clothes and accessories. All stages of the process are hand controlled and time intensive.

Le Produit

Colorful mixed cloth and wooden details enhance each bag

Comfortable baby sling with hardwood buckle

Cute little boat shaped handbag for a night out

Patchworked tote for market or beach trips

Cute reversible day tote with wooden rings.

Cosmetic Accesory pouches perfect for little somethings or to use as a wristlette

Hobo Styled shoulder bag with harwood rings

perfect for weekend trips

Great shoulder bag for trips to class or the office.