Paris, France – Eswatini artisans shared the global stage at Paris Design Week 2025, presenting four collections under the INDALO banner in collaboration with international designers. The showcase celebrated heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design, blending centuries-old craftsmanship with modern creativity.
The event was part of the Eswatini: Promoting Growth Through Competitive Alliances project, driven by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with the European Union and the Government of Eswatini. The initiative supports small farmers, entrepreneurs, and artisans to access export markets.
EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, and Head of Cooperation, Eva-Maria Engdahl, attended the exhibition’s opening, praising the ingenuity of the participating artists. This marked the second time Eswatini’s craftspeople had travelled to Paris under the ITC’s Alliances for Action programme.
For local participants, INDALO carried deep meaning. Designer Zazi explained that working with artisans had reconnected her with her roots, saying it allowed her to take her culture and design thinking to a global platform.
Ceramicist Timani from Master Artworks said the collaboration would benefit both his company and his community. “It will help us create better jobs, grow into a bigger company, and inspire us to think differently about design,” he said.
International collaborators also spoke of the creative exchange. A designer from Norway described discovering a shared “language through craft, making and materials” with Eswatini artisans, noting that the process opened “infinite possibilities of creation.”
According to EU representatives, INDALO demonstrated how Eswatini’s homegrown creativity can connect with European buyers and designers to develop products that speak to international markets while staying rooted in local culture.
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