Khayelitsha Crafts

ARTS AND CRAFTS:

There is a wide range of items available for any occasion.

If you need an outfit for a formal function, with a traditional or unusual twist, you can purchase or order, a dress, or skirt, top and throw. Colours range from blue, green, yellow or orange, with black trimmings and are often finished off with African beads. Orders in other colours can be made as well. There is also the Tshwe Tshwe fabric which is a printed fabric in blue, brown or red, traditionally worn by married Xhosa women (one print even has Nelson Mandela's picture on it). These outfits sometimes have inlaid panels of a contrasting fabric or colour and beads on them too. We are working on a range of funky wear including shorts, trousers, tops and dresses at the moment. One lady, who runs a sewing school there, can design and make anything from merely looking at photographs of what is required. These outfits can be finished off with a pair of beaded or crocheted shoes. Accessories include printed, beaded or tin bags, as well as a wide variety of bangles, necklaces and earings.  

If you wish to redecorate your living space, there is beautiful pottery (dinner services as well as decorative items), table cloths, place mats, woven wall hangings and mats, and of course, paintings and collages. Serviette rings, beaded and wooden spoons, salad servers and picture frames are available, and one can even buy a working radio made of wire and tin. Ornaments include various items made from wire, beads and tins. Smaller gifts in the form of key rings are also available, as well as wonderful Christmas decorations.

You might like to have a few bunches of lillies, roses, daisies, sunflowers or poppies around your living space, which only require dusting. They are recycled from tins, and either painted in various colours, or left as is, and are crafted by a wonderful man who was inspired to make them after a dream he had one night. They look like tthe real thing.

Another man, who is a Rastafarian,makes accessories and also crochets tops and jackets. There are hand-printed aprons available. Anything you would like to order, or have made, can be accomplished by these talented people.

Let us not forget the musicians either. There is traditional music, acapella gospel music, local rap and hip hop music available too.