?Out of Africa?? The name could be misleading. Caroline Martin?s shop is 100% Mauritian and she insists on this. ?Each and every member of our team is Mauritian and we are very proud of it.? Except for some accessories that are not found locally, all her clothes are manufactured in her little workshop in Goodlands that Nizam runs most competently.

Production in Mauritius might involve a number of disadvantages; it is undoubtedly limited by the fact that we are a small island. It is also true that we do not have the same technical capacities as in, say, China. However, ?the products we manufacture here make me proud each time I travel abroad. We have no reason to be ashamed of what we do here.?

Out of Africa targets a middle-market geared to people?s needs. ?Our prices are not so high and people have a good deal. In any case, if we sold our products at more expensive prices, people would go and buy their clothes abroad. Cheaper prices would mean being in competition with hawkers? Although we follow European trends ? especially in Italy and France ? we have our own image and we do not want to be totally influenced by the international market,? Caroline Martin explains. Of course, the owner-designer goes to international fairs several times a year to make sure her work is up-to-date and follows fashion trends. However, she insists on imprinting a special Mauritian touch in her creations?

But what does this special touch mean? ?You know, the present trends are so wide that we can easily find a way of putting fashionable trends and local preferences together. I believe that the choice of colours for our clothes translates our identity in a way. The colours we choose are far more luminous and bright than in Europe, for instance.? A quick glance into the shop proves her right.

Of course, there are off-white or brown models but the bright orange, pink or green are far more in evidence. Caroline has chosen to adapt to local tastes. ?What is interesting for me is what is happening here; the concept has to please local people. This is the most important thing for me.?

<B>Ready for an unforeseen dinner</B>

This also explains her choice of materials. ?Everything is made with natural fabrics like linen, cotton or silk? They adapt particularly well to the climate, as they keep people cool. I suppose this is what people are looking for when they come to Out of Africa? Each time I have tried to market a synthetic fabric, my customers have not really shown much interest.?

Of course, the shop also has a tourist clientele but the designer doesn?t want to make specific clothes for this market. ?We make classical types of clothes for women and I believe everyone can find what they are looking for here. When I design something, I do it for Mauritian women but experience has proved that tourists enjoy my clothes as well.? The principle behind Out Of Africa is to allow working women to wear the same clothes from the morning when they go to work until an unforeseen dinner in the evening.

It is true that the concept was not exactly the same when the shop opened 17 years ago. ?I had spent two years in Africa when I opened the shop so the idea was to make something that was rough outside and soft inside. But trends have changed since then and we had to adapt to what people were looking for.?

Caroline Martin promises her new March collection will target a younger clientele? And she is sure that her customers will follow the trend!

<B>An unexpected career ! </B>

?I have turned out quite ?badly??, says Caroline with a broad smile when asked about her career path. ?I studied law in France but, when I came back home after working there for a few years, there were no opportunities in my field.? Is that why she decided to start her own business in the ?rag-trade?? Was it pure coincidence? Not really? ?My mother used to be a dressmaker so I have always been familiar with designs and materials? I love design and decoration?? So when the opportunity came, she seized it!