Industrial evolution

KNYSNA NEWS - The so-called industrial areas of towns and cities are traditionally avoided unless you're looking to purchase items such as paint, pipes, or buckets full of bolts wholesale.

Even if you do happen to have one of the most compact, charming, and versatile industrial areas any town could ever wish for.

And this is one of the reasons why local businesses in Knysna Industrial have teamed up to kick off a brand-new initiative known as Last Fridays, starting this week.

The idea behind the initiative, which is spearheaded by The Showroom (the team behind The Doos Gallery exhibition in February), is that venues open up on the last Friday of each month to give people a chance to explore the exciting studios, artisan spaces and food/drink venues in the industrial area.

"We are excited to have the cooperation of institutions such as Red Bridge Brewing Co, Knysna Gin, Maillard Baking Co (usually, though replaced by Bao Wow this month), Iconic Cars, The Boardroom Skatepark, Pure Salvage … and others, as well as ourselves, participating," said Nicki Friedlein of The Showroom.

Last Fridays will see more than 10 businesses in the industrial area, all within a 350m radius of one another, welcoming customers for the special occasion.

"At The Showroom, we are hosting a fashion pop-up for an exciting young designer, Alexa Schempers," Friedlein explained.

"She has been invited to send a movie about her conscious fashion initiative to Lagos Fashion week and will be screening this movie and showing her collection of art in our space. We'll also be joined at our pop-up from around 16:30 by BAO WOW, serving Asian street food and there is a Leonard Cohen tribute artist playing at Whitewashed from 19:00."

Because the venues are close together, if you wear the right footwear and consider yourself fairly fit, you should be able to walk between them it might even be the best option if you'll be visiting the breweries!