Twananani Textiles

Twananani Textiles is a group of 12 women who make a variety of textile products inspired by traditional Tsonga patterns and symbols.

They are based in Mbokota village near Elim, Northern Limpopo. They create a wide range of home decoration and fashion products, using techniques such as batik,  hand painting, block printing, dying, bead work and embroidery.

Vibrant Tsonga heritage applied in new styles at Twananani

Safety pin work combined with embroidery in typical Tsonga style

Block printing and embroidery combined in modern designs

They also decorate garments for well-known fashion designers in Johannesburg and make beautiful beaded and embroidered textile artworks. They run their  workshop combined with a creche in Mbokota, both can be visited.

A particular range of Twananani based on Tsonga pattens applied in new ways

Tsonga women doing batic in groups sitting in a circle around the warm wax

Tsonga woman of Twananani free painting with wax for batic bed spread

Beautifully beaded and embroidered modend ncheka made at Twananani

Kids at Twananani’s creche are fond of singing with guests visiting.

Twananani is in Mbokota village, Elim, Northern Limpopo, South Africa