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GAME INDUSTRY TRENDS ANALYSIS 2024
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South African Ostrich Feathers Fly High At Olympics
South African ostrich feathers fly high at Olympics
By Sinenhlanhla Mncwango | 31 July 2024 | 9:17 am
The global spotlight was cast on South African ostrich farms when singer Lady Gaga performed at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games adorned in pink ostrich plumes and a black ostrich feather outfit.
Photo: Getty Images
The remarkable attire, sourced from Cape Karoo International, has not only showcased the beauty of ostrich feathers but also underscored the high-quality products from South Africa.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen shared his enthusiasm on social media, stating: “I received an exciting letter from the managing director of Cape Karoo International informing me that the pink ostrich plumes and black ostrich feather outfit used during Lady Gaga’s Olympic Games performance were sourced from South Africa’s ostrich farms and are proudly South African.”
Francois de Wet, managing director of Cape Karoo International, expressed his pride and surprise at seeing their products on such a grand stage.
“Ostrich feathers are one of Cape Karoo International’s three product lines, alongside ostrich leather and ostrich meat,” said De Wet.
READ Quality feathers give Oudtshoorn ostrich farmer the edge
He highlighted the importance of this exposure for the ostrich farming industry. “Ostrich feathers are in fashion, especially over the past three years. Celebrities like Lady Gaga and Naomi Campbell often wear ostrich feather dresses. Ostrich feathers play a crucial role in the total realisation of ostrich farmers, together with the income from meat and skins,” he added.
The international display at the Olympic Games is expected to boost the demand for ostrich feathers.
“With this show of ostrich feathers at the Olympic opening, the beautiful natural products in different colours were in the eyes of more than a billion people [who watched the opening ceremony on TV]. We believe that this international stage will contribute to a sustainable demand for our feathers,” De Wet said.
“This will, in turn, ensure that ostrich producers’ income per slaughter bird stays at current levels and enable sustainable production on farms and at processors like Cape Karoo International.”
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