Find what you need!
Find what you need!
At Love Shweshwe Africa, we pride ourselves in creating expertly crafted traditional shweshwe material items. Immense care is placed in the making of each one, resulting in authentic South African products characterised by personalised accents and an exceptionally high standard of quality.
SPECIAL NOW ON: Buy any 3 laptop accessories and get the cheapest one for free
This image features a laptop sleeve for 14 - 16 inch computers. It is padded and protective, and made using your preferred pattern.
For laptops with screens larger than 16 inches, we will happily tailor-make sleeves to fit them.
Our smaller, 13 inch sleeves are perfect for models as small as 11 inches, and snuggly fit all 13 inch laptops.
Our bags are high quality, durable, and protective. They feature an outer zip pocket as well as carry handles for convenience.
Bags are big enough for all laptop sizes, with extra space for additional essential items, such as notebooks or documents packs.
We make high quality, durable products for pets, which can be made with any pattern.
These plush dog beds come in different sizes, ranging from small to extra large. Not only are they extremely comfortable and durable, they also have zips, making the covers easy to remove and wash.
Our dog jackets are warm, cozy, durable, and also reversible. On colder days, your best buds can be fastened up under the soft, fleecy side. When it's warmer, just reverse the jacket for extra breathability!
Sizes available in small, medium, and large, but can be custom tailored if necessary.
These reversible dog blankets are comfy and padded, making them perfect additions to existing dog beds, or for use anywhere else that requires a little extra cushioning and warmth.
Dimensions:
Small (1x1m)
Medium (1x1.5m)
Large (1.5x1.5m)
Choose from our various kitchen and home designs
Our placemats are reversible, and available in all patterns. Dimensions are 40cmx30cm, and are slightly cushioned to protect any table surface.
High quality and unique, these aprons are a great companion to any cooking endeavours!
Our plush mitts are beautiful and durable, and they will make a great addition to any kitchen setup or style.
Check out our reversible bags and car bin bags - all colours available!
Choose from any of our available shweshwe colours for our large and stylish beach bags.
Our shoulder bags are similar to our beach bags, but are reversible and can be used for a variety of different occasions. Can be tailored in a variety of colours and combinations.
These are one-of-a-kind bin bags for use in cars. Whether traveling on a road trip or just to work in the morning, these bags are very useful for the odd build up of used bottles, coffee cups, or any other loose rubbish.
Beautifully crafted products for outings or the home.
Love Shweshwe makes high quality, plush picnic blankets for outings of all kinds. Easily foldable, with a durable under-layer and a gorgeous top, made with any available pattern.
Dimensions
W: 1.5m, L: 2m.
These bucket hats are reversible and are made to suit any colour and pattern preference. We have different sizes available, and these can be further custom tailored if necessary.
Pictured above are two different styles of pillow case. On the left is traditional shweshwe material, and the right we have traditional batick material. All cases are reversible and can be made in any available colour and pattern.
Standard sizes are 40x40cm, but we can tailor to custom sizes if preferred.
All products can be made using any of the available shweshwe material that we have in stock. We regularly acquire new patterns, so please feel free to contact us if you have a particular colour or idea in mind, and we will get back to you with our current options.
Sanya and Shamiso are the creators of Love Shweshwe Africa, and work by themselves to handcraft every item that they sell. Originally from Zimbabwe, Sanya and Shamiso established themselves in South Africa in the last few years in pursuit of a better life for their family in response to the ever-worsening political and economic climate of Zimbabwe.
This incredible couple who are full of love and abundant goodness have persevered in the face of ongoing adversity to use their skills to develop their small - but growing business.
This website has been created to promote their creations to anybody, anywhere, and to give interested individuals the opportunity to support their work.
Shweshwe, also known as 'German print,' 'ujamani,' 'shoeshoe,' or 'sis,' is a lively fabric cherished by diverse cultures, yet distinctly African in essence. Its name has different origins; some attribute it to the swishing sound produced by shweshwe skirts while walking, while others claim it was initially called seshoeshoe, inspired by King Moshoeshoe I of the Basotho who received the fabric as a gift from French missionaries in 1840 and popularised it during his rule.
Originally, this vibrant fabric was available solely in indigo and reached South Africa through the trading port in the Cape of Good Hope. Colonial settlers further spread its use throughout the 1800s. Indigo fabric itself has roots in various places such as India, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, and even Czechoslovakia. In 1992, the South African textile company Da Gama acquired trademark rights from a UK company to produce these distinctive cotton designs locally. They imported large patterned copper rollers to impress designs on the fabric, which was then washed with weak acid to create intricate white patterns. Da Gama Shweshwe still retains its iconic starchy finish, originally used to protect the fabric during lengthy sea voyages from Europe. After washing, the stiffness fades away, leaving a soft cotton fabric that we admire today.
Xhosa women started to incorporate the material into their clothing styles, replacing previously worn animal-skin garments, and, today, the material is still used in traditional Xhosa and Sotho marriage practices. Apart from this, shweshwe is worn by women and men across all ethnic groups in contemporary South Africa, as well as in the production of various accessories and upholstery. Top South African designers also incorporate shweshwe into their work, with appearances of shweshwe on the runways of international fashion events. Shweshwe material, at its essence, represents the rich and complex South African story and symbolises and celebrates our strong, inspiring identity.
Open today | 09:00 – 17:00 |
We will take 3 - 5 days to complete and deliver your order, depending on your address. We courier nationwide, but expect these orders to take slightly longer due to transport times. Contact us for any questions!
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