The Sanlam handmade contemporary fair has returned to Johannesburg. Already in its ninth edition the fair brings together the best in artisanal products and craftsmanship. CGTN′s Julie Scheier went to take a look and filed this report.

Every African creation here is unique and high end.

JULIE SCHEIER JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "This fair brings together the best the continent has to offer. It features local craftsmen and women and top designers, showcasing handmade products and their products that highlight the best of Africa's unique skills and raw materials."

CASSANDRA TWALA CURATOR, ART LOGIC "What we are trying to do is Africa is the bar of where everything should be set. And as Africans we need to trade with each other and understand and that's where the fair shifted, it used to just be South Africa but we made a conscious effort over the last 3 years to include African brands and those are sponsored but it's an exchange that's really important for us to understand that we are the bar and these are global brands, but they are from Africa, and there's no aspiration of being European, the aspiration is being African and celebrating that."

The 9th edition celebrates artisans who have mastered the art of turning raw materials into meaning.

SINDISO KHUMALO DESIGNER "To show that African handmade is beyond baskets on the beach, I think there is this kind of idea and curio world idea of what we make and what we do and I just want another angle it, it's a luxury garment and it's made with the care and purpose and it should sit there with any other big brand."

The products sold here are expensive, but that doesn't seem to deter shoppers.

"There is great work on the continent in different patches and pieces and a lot of it is undiscovered so having a fair like we have all those undiscovered artists big and small under one roof and the reach is great."

While international trends play a big role on local artisans, creatives are committed to staying true to the continent's diversity, skills and materials.

DIRCE RUAS DESIGNER, RUUM "We started working with really skilled people, we have a beautiful skilled team and basically what we do is we teach them design principals, what makes design and what will be sellable outside Africa."

The fair has grown from 50 exhibitors since 2010 to 120 exhibitors in 2018 exposing participating SMEs, while increasing their sales.

DR. THEO MOTHOA-FRENDO CEO, USO - AFRICAN DERMAL SCIENCE "I think really now is such a good time, we have such great opportunities to bring locally made brands that are made with our needs."

This platform connects entrepreneurs and SMEs to a supportive audience, but it's also pushing makers to transform raw materials into meaningful designs. JS, CGTN, JHB, SA.