South African Embroidery

The Mapula Embroidery Project is considered one of the most important community art projects in South Africa. It was founded in the Winterveld, northwest of Pretoria with 14 women in 1991 and now includes around 150 women in three groups who create embroideries to generate income to feed, clothe, and educate their children.

BuddhaBee had the opportunity to visit members of the collective at a Sisters of Mercy classroom in the Winterveld in 2019. We were enthralled with their colorful work that ranged from delightful depictions of animals, plants, and daily life to more somber political subjects-and heartened by the warm welcome our group received. We brought home a small selection of pieces and immediately regretted not purchasing more!

*Mapula is a Tsonga name that means “Mother of Rain.” It connotes an impending good harvest and feminine power.

Visit our blog for more information about this wonderful creative empowerment project and our business practices with them - are we fair trade? Want to know more? The March 2021 blog tells all.