Page 10 - KZN Business Sense 7.7 ebook

PRESIDENTIAL RECOGNITION FOR
ARDMORE FOUNDER
ée Halsted, one of the
Standard Bank KZN Top
FBusiness Women 2021, has
been recognised with a National
Order 2021 award.
President Cyril Ramaphosa
recently bestowed the National
Order awards on distinguished
citizens and foreign nationals
who have made a significant
impact on improving the
lives of South Africans. The
National Orders are the highest
awards that South Africa,
through its president, bestows
on its citizens.
Fée, the founder of Ardmore
and creative director of
Ardmore Ceramics Studio, was
awarded the South African
Presidential Award ‘The Order
of Ikhamanga’ in silver for her
Shamam honoured at Standard Bank KZN Top Business Women event. platforms. She also lobbies
10
contribution to the visual arts Today Ardmore is a successful “Our artists created
and generous transferring of international business. Ardmore’s masked monkeys teaching
skills to others. ceramics have been acknowledged the rules of safety to prevent
as a “modern day collectable” by catching Covid, men pushing
Fée Halsted is an academic
and award-winning artist, with prominent auction house Christies wheelbarrows filled with
manifest passion and tenacity. of London. contraband and elephants
Amongst some of her awards, Fée believes that the success of sanitising monkeys’ hands.
she and her protégé, Bonnie Ardmore is based on her brave We created masks from
Ntshalintshali, jointly won the pioneering spirit, her tenacity, our fabric designs and gave
Standard Bank Young Artist self-belief, and her determination the proceeds to our local
Award in 1990. Fée was awarded to strive for excellence. She, community food bank. These
an Honorary Doctorate in however, couples these wonderful same masks were seen in British
2016 from the University of characteristics with having a
KwaZulu-Natal. ‘heart’ in the business by acting Vogue magazine and on the
catwalks of New York Fashion
Fée describes Ardmore as a ‘mother’ to her artists with Week in 2020.”
as being “recognised by its a nurturing forgiveness, and
colourful and quirky designs sometimes with tough love. The future for Ardmore
and is proudly South African”. In response to the Covid-19 lies in the hands of the next
She goes on to recount that pandemic, and again evincing generation. Fée’s children
“Ardmore started with one- Jonathan, Catherine and
of-a-kind ceramics and 10 Fée’s tenacity, she goes on to Megan are all passionate about
years ago we developed our recount how Ardmore adapted: the business and many of the
wonderful designs into fabrics “Thank goodness my children artists' adult children have now
and homeware products. We were there to assist me and joined the Ardmore studios and
also collaborate with British adapt to the situation. We are developing into talented
very quickly had to shift the
wallpaper company Cole & Son artists themselves.
and have just launched into the business from an in-store sales
fashion accessories industry.” model to an online sales model, Recently Ardmore has
Ardmore was established as so many have had to do. created an Arts Trust, as art
in 1985 and has since We held online auctions and education is sadly lacking in
grown with Fée currently exhibitions to try and boost local schools. Ardmore hopes
mentoring approximately 50 sales. During Covid we have to provide creative education
artists. Commenting on the created ceramic artworks that for under-privileged children
growth of her company Fée have delighted our collectors in the community and have
says, “I believe my greatest by using animals that have partnered with Thebilithle
achievement is giving people, symbolism and meaning,” School in Howick.
without opportunity and little “We used the pangolin as a Fée believes there is huge
education, self-worth. I have major theme of the pandemic. raw talent within South Africa’s
grown rural people, people The pangolin symbolises hope. local communities, simply
with disabilities and learning Its scaly exterior and defensive waiting to be unleashed. Fée
disorders into people who stand curled posture, when threated, states that “All it takes is a
tall in their community and can are symbols of protection and little encouragement and
feed their families.” safety,” explained Fée. nurturing.” 
CHANGING THE LIVES OF
OLDER PEOPLE
he Association for and advocates for the rights of In her encouragement to
the Aged (Tafta) is older people in her capacity as women, Shamam advised
Texcited to celebrate the the Africa Ambassador to the that being true to yourself
announcement of CEO Femada Commonwealth Association for and starting small will open
Shamam as one of only 30 the Ageing. opportunities. “Never be afraid
women hailed as a Standard to learn or seek advice, as there
Bank KwaZulu-Natal Top “I don’t believe that what I do will be times when you fail.
Woman in Business at their gala is extraordinary. But what I do When you do; fail fast, and
commemoration evening held believe, is that giving 100% of move on to the next thing.
recently. myself in my initiative to lead I firmly believe that it is in
my team with passion will give
Since beginning her career at effect to Tafta’s purpose, which our failures that we learn our
The Association for The Aged is to bring dignity, growth and greatest lesson. Remember to
as a newly qualified Social a meaningful life to all older forgive yourself. You will make
Worker, Shamam has been mistakes, don’t dwell on them.
instrumental in changing people. If we are able to do that, We are here for a short moment
I think we will then truly live in
the lives of older people in time, and we can’t waste our
for 22 years. Now the chief a wonderful world. When I get energies on things that we can’t
executive officer of the non- into a lift with an older person, control. Live in the moment; do
profit organisation, Shamam and they talk about how their the best that you can because
represents Tafta on various lives are better because of Tafta’s the only control that you have
local, national and international interventions, that for me is is over your own actions,”
extraordinary,” said Shamam. concluded Shamam. 