aklala du 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.