If love wilts, these roses surely won’t
THANKS to a Durban street artist, your red roses can now last forever. Only, his kind of flowers are not grown, but crafted by hand.
Joe Tasi, 36, believes he has the ideal Valentine’s Day beaded rose bouquet. Known as Joe the Beaded Wire Craftsman, he has been weaving beads at Avondale’s Spar since 2004. He was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and left in 2002 in search of a better life.
“I was 19, my parents had died and everything was crumbling around me. I left the country with my uncle to search for a better life and employment. I learnt how to make art. It’s my passion and I worked very hard to make it my career,” he said.
Now the entrepreneur receives orders for his beaded crafts from across the world, including the UK.
He sends his orders abroad with help from his clients.
When he set up shop over a decade ago at the spot on Avondale Road, he would sell a few key rings to those shoppers passing by. As the years passed, his clientele grew, and many would purchase his crafts to hand out as tokens for special occasions.
Last year, his business began flourishing when he took to social media.
“I got so many orders through Facebook that I hired two people to help me,” he said.
“It was tricky to post online but I learnt how to do it over time and it’s what boosted my business. The future looks promising.
“That’s the advice I give to other entrepreneurs: to take their time and learn, practise, and make something of your talents,” he said.
For each season of celebration, Tasi creates a set of celebratory beaded work to sell.
“It’s a very long process to make the crafts, and many people do it, but this is our livelihood. We pay our rent with this money and feed our children,” he said.
He is already stocked up with Valentine’s Day orders of red flowers that will last forever. |