DTC awards diamond designers

MPHO TLALE
Staff Writer | Monday March 25, 2013 00:00

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Diamond Trading Company, Varda Shine, in her remarks at the awards ceremony said Botswana, Namibia and South Africa have managed to increase international interest by working together and giving young and upcoming designers a platform to work through the diamond design competition.

Although the South African jewellery collection was not present at the event, a total collection from Botswana and Namibia of over 14,000 cut diamonds with a combined wholesale value of over U$1 million was showcased. The collection showcased the 2013-14 collection of winning designs by the two countries' designers.

Commenting on the collection, Shine said this year the diamond design competition was aimed at celebrating the African woman and the role she plays in society. She said the design competition, which was hosted under the theme ' Women of Africa, Your Light shines', is in celebration of the contribution that women have made to the society. She said: 'It is fitting to celebrate our women as they make all parts of the society and their contribution cannot go unnoticed. Shine further said that platforms like the diamond design competition are excellent developments, and an example of what can be shown to the outside world as far as diamond production is concerned. She added that Botswana has a reputation to uphold with the opening of the diamond hub in Gaborone by the end of 2013 adding that there has never been such a keen interest in diamonds in Botswana than there currently is.

For his part, the DTC Botswana Managing Director, Tabake Kobedi, said the design competition came at the heat of the global financial crisis, but managed to continue despite the slow recovery. He said: 'Diamond benefaction is a business imperative that has become the defining message of our time, and in order to maintain credibility on it, we should not beneficiate diamonds, but be seen to do it through our deeds.'

Kobedi further said that through the design competition, the contestants came out with increased experience and knowledge of diamonds, jewelry design and entrepreneurship.The Botswana Shining light Diamond jewellery Design Awards were launched in the country in 2008 with an aim to celebrate the beauty and purpose of diamonds through jewelry design.