From a Lockdown Side Project to a Five-Star Hotel Client — The Artefactory Story

In 2020, the world stopped. Borders closed, offices emptied, and most people found themselves stuck at home with nothing to do but wait.

Fabrice Permal decided to build a CNC machine.

Not because he had the training for it. Not because he had a business plan. But because sitting still was never really an option for someone who had been drawing, building and designing things since he was three years old.

That decision — made in a bedroom during a global pandemic — is how Artefactory was born.

It Started Long Before Covid

To understand Artefactory, you have to understand Fabrice.

Growing up in Curepipe, he was the kid who drew cars on everything — sketchbooks, school notebooks, and famously, a family Bible and a brand-new leather sofa. His parents weren’t always thrilled, but nothing could stop him.

At 11, he was convinced he’d become a car designer. At 13, a Lego set changed everything. He started building entire cities — and watching his father renovate their home sparked a fascination with architecture, construction, and the way things are put together.

He studied interior design at the Charles Telfair Institute, where he found his tribe — a group of people who were just as passionate about design as he was. From there, he spent nearly a decade at a leading home improvement company, working his way up from sales to CAD and 3D design specialist. He was good at it. Really good.

But there was always something pulling him towards making things with his own hands.

The Pandemic Changed Everything

When Covid-19 hit Mauritius and the country went into lockdown, Fabrice saw an opportunity hiding inside the chaos.

He taught himself CNC machining from scratch — watching videos, reading forums, experimenting, failing, trying again. He built his first CNC machine from parts. And when he needed a 3D printer to take things further, he braved police roadblocks during a national curfew to go and buy one.

His first venture, Badge-it, focused on creating rare automotive badges. It didn’t take off the way he’d hoped — the pandemic restrictions made it almost impossible. But instead of giving up, he learned everything he could from the experience.

He sold both of his personal cars to invest in better equipment. And he started again.

The Name

Artefactory. It’s a name that tells you everything about who Fabrice is.

It’s a blend of artefact — a word his mother once taught him, meaning an object made by human hands — factory, because this is a place where things are made, and art, because everything that comes out of this workshop is made with artistic intention.

“Artefactory is a mini-factory of objects,” Fabrice explains. “But it’s also a piece of my childhood memories.”

From Bedroom Workshop to Five-Star Hotels

Artefactory started small — wood engravings, custom trophies, personalised gifts for friends and family. Word spread, orders grew, and the workshop got busier.

Then came the call that changed everything: a five-star hotel needed bespoke Christmas decorations. Artefactory delivered. And suddenly, the little workshop that started during lockdown was producing work for some of Mauritius’s most prestigious venues.

Today, Artefactory’s client list includes corporate companies, schools, sports clubs, restaurants, and hotels — all across the island. The product range has expanded to include:

• Custom wood and acrylic engravings
• Laser-cut business signage
• Personalised trophies and corporate awards
• 3D-printed moon lamps and decorative objects
• Automotive badges
• Engraved gifts and keepsakes
• Bespoke furniture and woodwork

All of it still made by hand. All of it still made with the same passion that drove a kid in Curepipe to draw cars on his family’s Bible.

What’s Next

Fabrice isn’t slowing down. The e-commerce store at artefactory.store is now live, making it easier than ever to order custom pieces from anywhere in Mauritius.

He also has a bigger ambition — to create employment opportunities for young people from underprivileged backgrounds. “I want to find talent where nobody else is looking,” he says. “And give them a chance to shine.”

His advice to anyone thinking about starting something?

“Don’t think too much. Thinking too much paralyses you. And aim for the moon — because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. Either way, you’ll be shining somewhere.”

Work with Artefactory

If you’re looking for custom handcrafted pieces made in Mauritius — whether it’s a personalised gift, a corporate trophy, business signage, or something completely original — Artefactory would love to hear from you.

📞 Call / WhatsApp: 57500055 🌐 artefactory.store 📸 @art_e_factory on Instagram and Facebook

Handcrafted in Mauritius. Made with passion. Built to last.