SHWESHWEBABY
Hall 2    Stand K04

We make baby and toddler accessories from vibrant Shweshwe material. Perfect for baby showers, to spoil a new grandchild, or as gift or memento for a tourist visiting SA. 

Tessa & Alex run Shweshwe Baby from Cape Town. We moved here in 2008 from London. We decided to combine baby accessories that we found useful as parents with small kids, with Shweshwe material, creating beautifully functional items.

All our products are 100% cotton and are hand made by seamstresses working in the Cape Town area.

Shweshwe fabric was brought to South Africa by missionaries from Germany in the 1840s – they presented their gifts to King Moshweshwe of Lesotho… and legend has it that’s how it got the name. Others say it represents the swishing noise the fabric makes when it’s worn.

In the 19th century, Shweshwe was only available in indigo – but today, while the underlying themes remain, the variety of colours and patterns is amazing!