Started in 2004 as a job-creation, social upliftment enterprise outsourcing work to street artists, African Allsorts formalised its operation into a studio in March 2006.
African Allsorts is managed by Dr. Leila Rajah and Jason Rosenstein. Leila who previously served the community as a medical practitioner decided to explore the fascinating world of bead and wire art. Her areas of interest are design and development. Jason has a business degree and was the former drummer of the well known South African band The Sons of Trout. His key area is financial management.
Our team of artists comprises young men and women, aged 19 – 36, from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. A wonderful team spirit prevails where talent is nurtured and members are encouraged to explore and innovate. For their painstaking work, we ensure that our artists, many of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families, are fairly remunerated.
Our job creation agenda has earned us the support of South African government departments such as the Department of Trade and Industry and the Tourism Enterprise Programme. We also receive international support from USAID.
African Allsorts is committed to achieving excellence through team work, passion, integrity, innovation and exemplary service to our clients. We are dedicated to developing bead and wire art and promoting it to a global audience to ensure the survival and growth of this uniquely Southern African art genre. By so doing we will continue to provide stable employment for our current team as well as create more jobs for historically disadvantaged artists.
While African Allsorts has made significant progress from its humble beginnings in 2004, we have to always strive hard to attain success in a highly competitive market. We welcome any support that would contribute to our sustainability and growth.