At CSAO or Compagnie du Sénégal et de l’Afrique de l’Ouest [Senegal and Western Africa Company], we fall for a bag or a pouch hand-stitched in Senegal. Meet in the Marais-set store to discover the work of several artists and craftsmen and craftswomen from Western Africa.
With their colorful fabrics and golden embroideries, these accessories are the optimistic messengers we’re happy to have with us for the day. Amour [Love], Paix [Peace], Bonheur [Happiness], Liberté [Liberty], so are the words we have stitched on these wonderful gems at CSAO.
We particularly love the Kossiwa bag with floral and “Amour” stitched, a large-sized bag for €89. Pouches (€49) are lined with 100% cotton fabric that give them a good hold so that we can put our stuff in and the cushions (€79) bring a splash of color in our bedrooms or lounges. In the store, we also have furniture (beaded armchairs from Nigeria or hand-painted trunks), toys and even bracelets.
CSAO is first and foremost the story of a woman, Valérie Schlumberger and her commitment. She went to live in Dakar following her ethnologist husband and creates a garment factory and opens on the Island of Gorée a store devoted to her clothing line, meeting many partners. It’s in 1995, after she came back to Paris, that she creates CSAO aiming at promoting and spreading the work of artists and artisans in Western Africa. With each and everyone of them, she builds strong and ethic bounds. Another reason to get one of these charming bags!
Dates and Opening Time
Starts August 31, 2019
Location
SWAC
9 Rue Elzevir
75003 Paris 3
Access
Saint-Paul metro station (line 1)
Official website
www.csao.fr
