Jane Taylor began spending time in Zimbabwe in her college years, and later moved from England to the small country in southern Africa. There, she nurtured a fascination with local crafting and learned how to weave. Twenty years later, her passion for weaving has developed into a brand that connects local artisans, hosts training programs, and distributes bespoke baskets, floorings, and other services to regional retailers and interior designers. This week’s Maker Monday is the founder of Collaborative Craft Projects, Jane Taylor.
Andrew Joseph: You’re the newest Crayola color. What color are you and why?
Jane Taylor: Charcoal – currently obsessed with this color in everything I do – classic and timeless, sleek and streamlined!
AJ: What is something you hope to see trending in design in the future?
JT: More sustainability and repurposed waste made into beautiful things.
AJ: What would you like to be remembered for?
JT: Being a great and loyal friend.
AJ: What’s the weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
JT: How long is a ball of string?!
AJ: What was your first job?
JT: Safari chef in Zimbabwe.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
JT: A medium international hospitality brand wishing to collaborate on a full range of our woven homeware for their projects or brand, or Casa Cook wanting to do a complete installation in an exotic location using our products and sharing our brand values and ethos.
AJ: What are you most proud of?
JT: 32 years of being married!
AJ: What are your beauty secrets?
JT: Keep it simple – no choice in Africa! Lots of sunscreen and always wear a hat.
AJ: Style (or design) icon?
JT: Kit Kemp – Design.
AJ: How would you define your work in three words.
JT: Exciting, challenging, always evolving.
AJ: What’s inspiring you in life (in the industry) right now?
JT: Collaborations in design!
AJ: A book that everyone should read?
JT: The Four Agreements, Don Miquel Ruiz.
AJ: What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?
JT: Indagare – Great travel and wanderlust podcast, interesting guests and variety.
AJ: What’s your go-to snack between Zooms?
JT: Coffee, coffee, and more coffee.
AJ: What about your design style has shifted post-quarantine?
JT: Clear the clutter and don’t accumulate more!
About The Maker | Specializing in bespoke basketry and unique natural flooring solutions, Jane Taylor works in tandem with Zimbabwe’s top designers to help realize their vision, and create exceptional lifestyle products. Jane has more than two decades of product design and production experience, and a strong passion for authentic interior design. Her natural aesthetic has allowed her to create CCP’s signature collections as well as work on many regional installations in the hospitality sector.
Collaborative Craft Projects was born out of Jane’s desire to bring the community into her craft, and CCP now offers both product development and training programs for implementation in communities.
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