Vezokuhle

Vezokuhlé is a Xhosa word meaning showing beauty. Our crafters take small scraps of fabric and interesting little bits they find amongst the off-cuts given to them by fashion designers and dressmakers. They use these and a unique thread-sketching technique to create wonderful scenes from their own lives and others from South Africa . We then make them up into fashion accessories or items for people to enjoy in their homes. The beautiful range of textile products was born from the merging of dreams undreamed, little and large acts of commitment, caring, generosity and the growing excitement of many, as shadows of imagination began to take on a semblance of reality, along with small pieces of fabric and scraps of shiny waste that became fascinating textile mosaics. The story begins when a group of women from Upington began teaching sewing, patchwork and quilting to unemployed women and young girls. Gerty Willemse, a local primary school teacher joined the group to help with the co-ordination and teaching. Lida Eksteen, a well known artist and friend became interested in the group. ...