Imiloa, Mauritius’s first pop-up shop, which set up its concept store in a permanent home in Trianon Shopping Park in 2014, has announced a new initiative on the island for homegrown talent.

Imiloa’s founder, Priya Ramkissoon’s experience and success with Imiloa where she sources artisans in India and Asia who are able to mesh their crafts with Imiloa’s designs, has led her to a new project to support local talent, charities and NGOs.

The new multi- functional creative venue aims to build a platform for students, local enterprises, emerging and young entrepreneurs, artists, social awareness groups, charities, NGOs and committees to exhibit and promote their innovation, art, business, design and creativity.

This socially minded project offers exhibition, performance and studio space for the development of business and creative enterprises.

Ramkissoon said: “With our new project, Imiloa is not only creating a platform that will build and enrich skillsets, but to encourage diversity and experimentation in the arts, business and world of creativity. Imiloa provides a workspace as well as supporting innovation.

“Our venue will also hold local grassroots programmes, workshops, seminars, children and group activities for local participation, business development, and niche recreation... Our goal is to become a hive for local participation...”

Alongside the Imiloa concept store (dedicated to artisans), the space now hosts a gallery, an event space for pop ups and an on-site cafe in collaboration with Theva Pyneeandy (cuisine by vintidui). The cafe offers locally sourced and carefully selected produce from local and emerging businesses with an experimental menu, offering healthy, vegan and organic dishes.

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