Master weavers in Swaziland have pushed the boundaries of their traditional crafting skills to showcase a modern translation of traditional African patterns.
Each basket is made from 100% recycled fabrics and sustainably harvested natural fibres and was hand-woven by 12 master weavers from the Ngwavuma region in Swaziland. The pieces are woven using a traditional coil technique that is fused with each weaver’s unique, personal touch.
Gone Rural, a social enterprise based in Swaziland provides home-based incomes to over 750 rural African women. Through combining an income-generating model with community development projects, Gone Rural has created a holistic approach to business and development. The social enterprise has over 30 African craftsmen with 12 of them being master weavers with many years experience.
Their latest project, Fluoro Vases – Series 2, sees a collection of woven baskets that are bright, bold and beautiful. The fun, graphic vases are a modern translation of traditional African patterns, scaled up with an injection of acid/fluoro tones, says Philippa Thorne, a committed member of Gone Rural Swaziland.
The aim of the series is to push the limits of the weavers’ normal work and to create more refined, large-scale pieces that elevate perceptions of craft locally and globally.