Eugenie has been involved in the Cultural and Creative Industries for over 30 years working with Performing and Fine Arts and Music; 18 of which have seen her actively involved in the Craft sector. Her experience includes founding the piece brand, where - collaborating with craft artists from all walks of South African life - she has developed and designed products for the retail store in Johannesburg which opened in 2000, and has built a dedicated following both locally and abroad, exposing these designs to the South African and International markets.

Nominated for Accessories Designer of the Year at the 2011 Africa Fashion Awards, and boasting customers and clientele the likes of President Mbeki, President Bill Clinton, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey’s team, FNB, and Princess Charlene of Monaco; piece operated for some time from the prestigious SAXON Hotel in Johannesburg, and is very highly regarded as a source of bespoke items. piece has produced custom design items for stage and performance for a number of local musicians and celebrities; and has accessorised the collections of local designers seen on a number of international catwalks, and in high profile magazines including Marie Claire India, L’Uomo and numerous local publications. In 2013, piece was the runner up in the Talk Radio 702 Small Business Competition.

Eugenie has undertaken curation and product development for projects such as:

  • an exhibition which was hosted by the Mayor of the Lombardy region in Italy to showcase South African artists (Nelson Makamo) and crafters (2007)
  • curation of the opening exhibition for the Gauteng Craft and Design Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg (2009) – an initiative of the Gauteng Departments of Sports, Arts and Culture;
  • design of 10 signature ramp pieces which models wore instead of swimwear for the Face of Africa Final Live Broadcast from Lagos (2010)
  • conceptualisation and curation of ‘Conversations from Grains of Sand’ exhibition held at piece (2011);
  • customised designs for David Tlale’s 2009 Arise Africa show at New York Fashion Week;
  • design of objects for decorator Stephen Falke, for the interior of Sol Kerzner’s yacht;
  • product development for retailers such as Loads of Living and Chrysalis Linen;
  • designing items with magazines such as House and Leisure and Most Wanted, for display on their stands at shows such as Rooms on View.

Facilitator of many significant relationships between crafters and customers, Eugenie has:

  • organised 12 micro and small enterprises to show at the Messe Leipzig Trade Fair (1999) in conjunction with the Association of German Speaking Businesses;
  • participated at the New York Gift Fair (2000);
  • hosted a stand at Design Indaba (2005 and 2010)
  • participated in the Santa Fe Folk Art Festival (2005);
  • formed part of The National Craft and Design Sector Co-Ordinating Group (2008)
  • formed part of the Task Team for the National Crafts Conference (2008)

Eugenie’s expertise in the sector is recognised and acknowledged – she is regularly asked to sit on the judging panel for industry events, such as:

  • the Arts & Culture Trust’s ImpACT Awards for Young Designers;
  • Joburg City Wants You competition;
  • Investec Competition;
  • First National Bank Craft Exhibition (2006)