Gift Hut Brings the Heart of Africa to the World with Unique Handcrafted Gifts

"When was the last time you received a handmade... gift?" asks Gift Hut owner and founder Nicole Maschwitz. "...few people in the industrialized nations make anything by hand anymore."

She adds, "However…there are many people who live in South America, Africa, and Eastern Asia who still appreciate the value of making products by hand."

In Africa artisans still line the streets, sitting on the side of the road sculpting and beading with limited tools and materials to create spectacular handcrafted works of art.

Gift Hut, the company created by Nicole and her partner Eleanor, offers an exclusive collection of genuine African handicrafts created by artisans in South Africa. The company was born during a backpacking expedition around the world, when Nicole met a fellow backpacker from South Africa while visiting London. She and Richard were married in 1994.

The couple calls Australia home, but returns to South Africa regularly to visit Richard's family. Nicole fell in love with the magnificent culture of African handicrafts. Slowly, the seed of an idea began to plant itself in her mind. What if she could share the amazing culture of these magnificent artists with the rest of the world?

It was several years before Nicole could make that dream a reality, years she and Richard spent raising their family. When their children Gemma and Riley, now 10 and 7, started school, Nicole knew the time had come.

With the help of Nicole's sister in law Colleen (a resident of South Africa) Gift Hut has commissioned two artisans based in South Africa to provide their current range of spectacular beadwork, a collection which includes spider web wall hangings, beaded bottles, magnificent jewelry and beaded elephant and giraffe sculptures.

They also carry an extensive collection of jewelry and animal sculptures made from recycled glass.

"What excited me most is that recycled glass is used to make the gift items produced by the company," states Nicole, "and children…are paid to collect glass bottles used in making them."

Gift Hut has extended the range of the products they offer since those early days to include unique handicrafts from around the globe. Customers can enjoy handbags, jewelry, photo albums, scarves and homewares from Italy, India, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries.

To view Gift Hut's range visit www.gifthut.com.au

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