Textiles: Colourful Cushions, Sustainable Design

Langazela by Africa!Ignite [South Africa]

Langezela Cushions - Africa!Ignite

[Image credit: Africa!Ignite, Langezela Cushions – Design Indaba]

Bold, colourful geometric patterns are hand embroidered in wool onto recycled maize meal sacks to form a range of cushions by Africa!Ignite. The technique was created by Mma Betina Khumalo, who started embroidering the maize meal sacks as a way of passing time. A highly skilled craftswoman, MmaKhumalo learnt craftwork techniques like beading and embroidery from her mother, and now works closely with her own daughter passing the techniques on. MmaKhumalo works for, Langazela one the craft groups supported by, Africa!Ignite.

Langazela means ‘the wish to do something’, and is the name given to the cushions. South African development agency, Africa!Ignite connected MmaKhumalo with Dutch designer Manousha Kraal of Noush, who now resides in South Africa, and together they worked on refining and developing the technique to produce the cushions, which come in four different sizes, and are backed with colourful complementary cotton or polycotton fabric.

Langezela Cushions - Africa!Ignite

[Image credit: Africa!Ignite, Langezela Cushions – Design Indaba]

As part of Africa!Ignite’s Ignite collection, the cushions were launched in 2013, exhibited at leading tradeshows including; Design Indaba in Cape Town, and Ambiente in Germany, and immediately proved popular, securing the organisation a number of stockists around the globe. Based in KwaZulu-Natal Africa!Ignite is a not-for-profit rural development organisation that was started in 2004. The organisation supports youths and adults; including around 1000 rural crafters, who are mostly women; sanitation and water outreach workers; rural retail entrepreneurs; tour guides; storytellers and rural research field workers.

Additional details:
Langazela cushions priced at: 
€49,00 / AUD$99
For further information about AfricaIgnite visit: www.africaignite.co.za
For further information about Noush visit: www.noush.co.za

To purchase from the South is. Blooming visit: www.thesouthisblooming.com
To purchase from SafariFusion visit: www.safarifusion.com.au[Image credits: The images shown belong to: Design Indaba. If downloaded and used elsewhere must be credited accordingly]

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