THIRTY-NINE years ago, German national Folker Berner, equipped a handful of disadvantaged Namibians with the technical know-how to weave elaborate rugs and work for his carpet making business in Omitara.

The carpet making business, at the time known as Dorka Teppiche, secured many clients abroad, ultimately leading to the success of the outfit.
When Berner retired in 2004, instead of retrenching his employees, he made the decision to distribute his business assets to the very people who had helped build his business.
It was then that Dorkambo Cooperative, the operation now based in Oniipa, was born. Managed and owned by nine male weavers and seven female tailors, the business has expanded its revenue and today exports custom carpets and clothing to the United States of America (USA), Germany and South Africa.
“When the company was given to us, we divided it into two departments; a carpet making production where the men work and a clothing making department where the women work,” Manager Sheyanena Samuel said.
Samuel explained that the company gets its wool from Agra and several farms in the South, making it a 100% Namibian run company.
“We dye the wool to make colour carpets. We also recycle our wool. The snippets from the carpets are not thrown away; instead they are used by the tailors to make clothes,” Samuel said.
Showcasing for the first time at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), Dorkambo Cooperative is fast proving to be a major player in the manufacturing industry.
“We were received with open arms because we produced quality carpets. It’s the quality of our carpets that has ensured our survival throughout the years,” adds Samuel.