“Trade Success” is a series about stories of entrepreneurs who benefit from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and signatory countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. In this 22nd issue, we are pleased to introduce to you the Patrick Mavros Atelier, a family business, specializing in the design and making of jewellery and Art Crafts for over 40 years.
The story of Patrick Mavros started in Zimbabwe in the 1970’s, with his self-taught jeweller father Patrick. In fact, in 1978, Patrick created a pair of earrings for his wife Catja, who wore them to the hair salon, where her hairdresser saw them and requested that a pair be made for her. Soon afterwards, all the other ladies who went to the salon were asking for similar earrings and from this gift of love, the journey of Patrick Mavros as Africa’s luxury house began.
Key facts about Patrick Mavros Atelier:
- The first jewellery studio of Patrick Mavros was built in 1983 in Zimbabwe followed by a new one in 2001.
- The brand is a family business now operated by the Mavros couple’s four sons: Alexander, Forbes, Patrick Jnr and Benjamin.
- Flagship store openings: 2004 in London (Chelsea) and 2013 in Kenya (Nairobi)
- Several consignment lodges are present across Africa and the United States of America.
- Forbes Mavros, the son of Patrick Mavros, opened the first Patrick Mavros jewellery studio in Mauritius in 2006, on which this success story is focused, and in 2018 Forbes and Kate, his wife, unveiled the amazing new Atelier in Mauritius, next door to L’Aventure du Sucre.
- In 2014, Forbes and Kate launched the Sea Urchin Collection, the first range of jewellery to incorporate precious stones.
- In 2019, Forbes and Kate created the Nada Collection, made in Sterling Silver and 18 Carat Gold set with White Agate, Black Onyx, Red Carnelian, Turquoise and Chrysophase.
Company profile:
Patrick Mavros is a family business, specializing in the design and making of jewellery and Art Crafts for over 40 years. This well-established company has its roots in Africa and was founded in Zimbabwe by Patrick Mavros. The economic collapse of Zimbabwe in 1999 led Forbes to take the brand to the EU for boosting the business. It is now an international luxury brand with points of sales in London, Harare, Mauritius, Nairobi, Cape Town and Namibia, including on consignment in the United States of America and in safari lodges in South Africa and Tanzania.
After working in Europe, Forbes settled in Mauritius in 2006 to benefit from the Free Port Zone advantageous conditions for manufacturing and exporting to his existing shops. However, not even one year later, after realizing the opportunity to sell locally, he exited the Free Port zone to establish his company in Mauritius.
In June 2018, Forbes opened the doors of an impressive Patrick Mavros Atelier, housed in a 180-year-old historic building, in the heart of the Beau Plan historical sugar estate, next door to L’Aventure du Sucre. The restoration of the main showroom in Mauritius took over two years. Forbes and Kate worked intimately with the architect and designed all the interior and furniture. Recently, in 2023, they opened three new shops at luxury hotels Prince Maurice and Royal Palm and in Ruisseau Creole mall in Tamarin.
The Patrick Mavros Atelier experience is a fascinating journey of high craft and curiosities, offering the epitome of industrial chic combined with innovative design. A unique concept with an open plan atelier gives visitors the opportunity to be guided through the stages of the craft, from wax modeling, to lost wax casting through to stone setting. The amazing team of master craftsmen who create intricate pieces of art inspired by nature are led by Kate and Forbes, assisted by a team of multicultural designers, including from the EU.
Today, this unique story is deeply rooted in Mauritius, where Forbes and Kate Mavros continue to be inspired by the islands’ rich nature. Combining ancient jewellery making techniques to modern technology, Kate and Forbes create a vast array of jewellery and sculpture inspired by the natural world. In addition to their signature African animal silver jewellery and sculpture ranges, the brand is constantly expanding, and will be soon launching a new collection based on Mauritius’ flora.
Handmade to Perfection
All Patrick Mavros products are handmade in their own workshops in Zimbabwe and Mauritius by skilled artisans. Many of the experienced craftspeople have worked in the company for decades, upholding the unique techniques that infuse intricate details in the products.
The ancient technique of lost-wax casting is used, where an original is created, a rubber mould is made, a wax model is produced, sprued onto a tree and then cast in molten silver or gold.
With sustainability and nature conservation at heart
The company does not incur newly mined metal as it uses only 100% recycled gold and silver from microchips, conductors and the medical industry, purchased mainly from Germany and France. The wax used in the process is also recycled as well as all wastes used in the process and by the company. This answers to the spirit of the company: giving back to nature!
Patrick Mavros has a joint project with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) enabling them to raise funds to support conservation initiatives for different species, whilst creating awareness of the species and the related work. Any purchase made from Patrick Mavros is directly contributing to MWF’s fundraising. In addition, 25% of the 2% of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Chargeable income goes to the MWF.
In addition, when the Covid-19 pandemic brought along a lockdown in Mauritius, another thought came to Forbes’ mind. Using a piece of basalt rock, Forbes started to manufacture bangles using ancestral forging techniques and some more modern tools. Under his veranda, the “Forged by the Ocean” bangle No 1 was created. The bangles were posted on the Patrick Mavros Instagram page and went on to be a wild success. In less than two months, over 300 bangles were sold, raising over MUR 750,000 for the MWF. During these two months, 50% of the selling price was put aside for the MWF.
The “Forged by the Ocean” bangle is still for sale and will continue to raise funds for the MWF alongside the original Mauritius Wildlife Collection of pendants and charm bracelets. Patrick Mavros’ support of conservation work in Mauritius is deeply reinforced by their commitment to this foundation. The funds will support the Mauritius Fody Conservation Project, an endangered endemic passerine, which has a population of 500 individuals on Ile aux Aigrettes.
Main achievements over the years:
- Patrick Mavros started his business alone in the 1970’s and the family business now has more than 48 employees in Mauritius only (from Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Poland, France and the USA) and over 150 employees worldwide.
- Expanded from silver to gold creations.
- Gemstones were included over the years and are now included in most creations.
- Contribution to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
- New shops at Prince Maurice, Royal Palm and Ruisseau Creole.
- Women empowerment is key as the company employs approximately 60% of employees are women and 40% men.
- Patrick Mavros is also an equal opportunity employer employing two persons with disability.
How did the EPA help?
All of the metals and machineries used by the Ateliers in Mauritius and Zimbabwe are imported from the European Union (Germany, France and Italy). The metals imported from Germany are exclusively recycled and we have invested in a Swedish purification system guarantying the production is environmentally friendly.
Thanks to the longstanding partnership we have with our German supplier for metals and the facilities under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and Mauritius, the process of importing goods from the EU is very smooth and we benefit from quota free and tariff free advantage.
We also participated in Jewellery Trade Shows in Germany, which was very fruitful.
“We source our recycled metal exclusively from the EU as there is no other source of supply for this sustainable niche product. With the facilities offered under the EU EPA, we are able to import machineries duty and quota free from the EU, which facilitates our import procedures as most our machineries are imported from the European Union”
Patrick Mavros Atelier, Mauritius
Forbes and Kate Mavros, Owners of the Patrick Mavros Atelier, Mauritius
