Natural fibres are a great advantage when selecting fashion accessories. Add to that the beauty of hand weaving or knitting and you get gorgeous, long-lasting fashion pieces that are uniquely different.

When production of fashion accessories also achieves minimal impact on the environment, productive employment and skills training, it is a Win/Win for everyone involved!

Tsandza Handweaving produces some of the most beautiful, gorgeously hued, bespoke quality fashion accessories we've ever seen.

Natural fibres are more comfortable, are less allergic to skin and production processes are less harmful to our environment. All wins as far as we are concerned.

We avoid synthetic fibres as they do not absorb perspiration and, for the most part, have a rough texture and feel we just don't like.

First established in 1979, Tsandza Weaving, formerly known as Rosecraft Weaving, is a social enterprise that produces high quality products, handwoven in pure natural fibres by talented artisans in rural Swaziland.

Consumers seeking ethically produced items that make an impact to a bigger purpose when making their purchase will find "forever presents" that not only represent beauty and skill, but also contribute to a more sustainable future for us all

MADE BY HAND

Every step of Tsandza’s production process is done by hand. From the dying, spinning & weaving to the knotting & tasseling. Even our sewing machines for labelling are manual! This means every item we make is unique and exclusive to you. Our impact on our environment is greatly reduced, and it also means we need many hands, ensuring we continue to be a vital source of training and income generation for many rural women.

It is quite a complex process requiring patience, skill and a lot of work!

VIEW THE LOOKBOOK

Now, let's learn some more about Tsandza Handweaving (and Swaziland).

Currently working with around 60 Artisans, Tsandza’s mission is to provide the opportunity for a constantly expanding population of rural women to develop and learn new skills that allow them to generate income to care for their families, and our consumers, another option and a means to buy more ethically.

View the Tsandza Handweaving video to learn more about how they produce remarkable fashion accessories while respecting the environment.

To order Tsandza Handweaving products, please view the collection online or contact us at Zawadee for more information.

If you are a retailer, it couldn't be easier to get access to our online Wholesale Catalog (and pricing).  and we'll send you access credentials. We're not pushy, so take your time to peruse our products at your leisure. We will reach out at some point in case you need anything but don't worry, we aren't pests! It's just not the way we do business.

Find a product isn’t selling in your retail environment? You can swap it for product of equal value at any time within six months of order date. Hassle-free help to find the right products for your retail environment.

That's how we make our wholesale business stand out from the crowd!

That venerable tale of the tortoise and the hare isn't just an amusing story. It's a lesson in making the right choices - in the long run!

 

Our commitment to the environment (and peace of mind) has brought us to embrace the concept of 'slow fashion' - a turn away from globalized mass production in the pursuit of environmental health and quality fashion.

Our grandmothers used to say 'always choose quality over quantity'. Such good advice. Take a look in your wardrobe today and reflect on what pieces are still there - still being worn. Bet you it's the better quality pieces - less faddish - made with more attention to detail and finishing. Fashion trends turned away from our grandmother's mantra and became 'fast-fashion' instead. Often fashion knock-offs made of lower quality fabrics. This has contributed to sweat-shop workers being exploited and to the 'buy cheap - throw it out after one season - buy more' syndrome. Try this challenge - not only to better your wardrobe - but also to better your planet, both socially and environmentally.

Buy With Conscious Thought

Buy natural fabrics or materials made by talented artisans/designers who love what they do and execute their work with care. Slow fashion is ethical, ecological and 'green'. Slow fashion is a commitment to the state of our Earth - the planet we inhabit. Look for garments and accessories that are made with attention to quality production - pieces that will have longevity - pieces that broadcast contemplation, discernment and value. Zawadee has a commitment to 'slow fashion'. We are currently sourcing products from around the world that are socially and environmentally sound - as well as high quality, handcrafted garments or accessories to be proud of. Both fine silver jewelry and organic shawls of fashion accessories are 'slow fashion'. Handcrafted with pride by talented artisans who not only evidence great skills but also a commitment to being ethical and to reducing the environmental impact upon the planet.

 

The Tsandza Collection

First established in 1979, Tsandza Weaving, formerly known as Rosecraft Weaving, is a social enterprise that produces high quality products, handwoven in pure natural fibres by talented artisans in rural Swaziland.

Consumers seeking ethically produced items that make an impact to a bigger purpose when making their purchase will find "forever presents" that not only represent beauty and skill, but also contribute to a more sustainable future for us all

 

Made By Hand

Every step of Tsandza’s production process is done by hand. From the dying, spinning & weaving to the knotting & tasseling. Even our sewing machines for labelling are manual! This means every item we make is unique and exclusive to you. Our impact on our environment is greatly reduced, and it also means we need many hands, ensuring we continue to be a vital source of training and income generation for many rural women. It is quite a complex process requiring patience, skill and a lot of work! 

The Azel Collection

The Tuareg Silversmiths of Azel have been designing and executing superb fine sterling silver jewelry for countless generations. Azel is located in northern Agadez (Niger) - a fairly daunting distance from hospitals and other support. That is why Mohammed Anou, a renowned Tuareg silversmith, grouped his fellow artisans together to form the basis of this remarkable jewelry - The Azel Collection. Mohammed hopes the collective's beautiful jewelry will benefit his beloved town of Azel - and help it's people!

 

 

There is a history and a story behind each piece and the traditional Tuareg motifs convey this in an intriguing way. Both ethical and environmentally conscious, The Azel Collection embodies both skill and conscious commitment by these remarkable artisans.

We encounter handmade products in trendsetting boutiques, and view them as artfully arranged emblems of good taste. So, why do we think that?

Handmade objects - whether art, garments, jewelry - can be found in the pages of magazines like Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Vogue and more. Handmade items have become the status symbols of people who appreciate products that are not 'run of the mill' - aren't found at a local mall.

We think society is experiencing a wonderful renaissance - a return to a more tactile and down to earth appreciation in counterbalance to factory-produced sameness. Handmade products tend to reflect our humanity in a way that embodies a deeper story - one of craftsmanship, passion, creativity. Something handmade is special in a way that mass-produced items simply can't convey. Akin to the 'farm to table' movement - the desire to know the origin of what you are eating - now many of us want to connect what we are wearing - or displaying - in a more meaningful manner.

 

Join The Renaissance!

Zawadee has a commitment to quality handmade products. We are currently sourcing products from around the world that are socially and environmentally sound - as well as high quality, handcrafted garments or accessories and home décor to be proud of. We believe handmade - handcrafted - speaks to care, consideration, longevity and stewardship.

The Ardmore Collection

On Springvale Farm, located in the KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), a most astounding art studio is found. Ardmore Ceramics has been acknowledged by the acclaimed auction house - Christie's - as producers of "modern day collectibles". Styled in an exuberant, exotic (even, may we say, whimsical style), the ceramics produced by this remarkable atelier are superb examples of design and craftsmanship 

Often inspired by wildlife, Ardmore Ceramics have been exhibited in leading galleries and collections around the world, including The Museum of Art & Design in New York and The Museum of Cultures in Basel (Switzerland). Ardmore's modern art style breaks ceramic conventions, using techniques resulting from years of experimentation with materials and processes. The vibrant colours and enormous attention to detail are simply superb.

The Tsandza Collection

First established in 1979, Tsandza Weaving, formerly known as Rosecraft Weaving, is a social enterprise that produces high quality products, handwoven in pure natural fibres by talented artisans in rural Swaziland.

Consumers seeking ethically produced items that make an impact to a bigger purpose when making their purchase will find "forever presents" that not only represent beauty and skill, but also contribute to a more sustainable future for us all.

Made By Hand

Every step of Tsandza’s production process is done by hand. From the dying, spinning & weaving to the knotting & tasseling. Even our sewing machines for labelling are manual! This means every item we make is unique and exclusive to you. Our impact on our environment is greatly reduced, and it also means we need many hands, ensuring we continue to be a vital source of training and income generation for many rural women. It is quite a complex process requiring patience, skill and a lot of work! 

The Azel Collection

The Tuareg Silversmiths of Azel have been designing and executing superb fine sterling silver jewelry for countless generations. Azel is located in northern Agadez (Niger) - a fairly daunting distance from hospitals and other support. That is why Mohammed Anou, a renowned Tuareg silversmith, grouped his fellow artisans together to form the basis of this remarkable jewelry - The Azel Collection. Mohammed hopes the collective's beautiful jewelry will benefit his beloved town of Azel - and help it's people!

Tuareg jewelry is distinctive, dramatic and meaningful.

 

 

There is a history and a story behind each piece and the traditional Tuareg motifs convey this in an intriguing way. Both ethical and environmentally conscious, The Azel Collection embodies both skill and conscious commitment by these remarkable artisans!

The KwaZulu Natal is about as eclectic a place as you can find. That's part of what makes it so interesting.

Rough and magical, smart and sophisticated, rural and urban, the KwaZulu Natal is a symphony of differences. Shabby suburbs nestled cheek to cheek with upscale malls. Beautiful beaches contrast with dramatic mountains and dry savannahs. African life beats a vigorous counterpoint in markets to the quieter and more pastoral settings in the rural areas.

Known as the "garden province" of South Africa, it was created very recently. In 1994, the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu merged with Natal province. Boasting a long shoreline along the Indian Ocean, the province borders Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. Beaches are well known to be world-class quality. 

Many notable figures of South Africa were born in the KwaZulu Natal. Albert Luthuli was the first non-white person (as well as the first person from outside Europe and the Americas) to win the Nobel Peace Prize (1960). Bhambatha was a 19th century Zulu chief who became an anti-apartheid icon. The province is home to two Unesco World Heritage sites - the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

 

The KwaZulu Natal is home to the Zulu monarchy and the majority of the population and the language is Zulu. The monarch is King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Although the Zulu monarchy has no direct political power, the king holds considerable influence on the more traditional Zulu population. Interestingly, a ceremony is performed every year, adding another wife in marriage to the king.

This was actually a method for creating connections among the various peoples! The ceremony is called the "Reed Dance". The current king has not added any new wives recently as he promotes abstinence until marriage as a way of both preserving Zulu culture and preventing the spread of HIV. Game reserves abound. Bird watching, elephant and hippo sighting, white rhinos, giraffes - the province is teeming with fascinating flora and fauna!

The Hluhluwe Umfolosi Game Reserve seems to be a bit of a "one stop shop" for those wishing to observe African animals. Home to the "Big Five" (elephant, buffalo, lion, rhino and leopard), the Hluhluwe Umfolosi is also a great place to spot prolific birdlife.

This prestigious reserve is famous for bringing the White Rhino numbers back from extinction and continued advances in setting benchmarks in conservation. Through careful management, the rhinos have multiplied and are exported to other reserves.

Elephants at Hluhluwe Umfolosi Game Reserve 

The Ardmore Collection

On Springvale Farm, located in the KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), a most astounding art studio is found. Ardmore Ceramics has been acknowledged by the acclaimed auction house - Christie's - as producers of "modern day collectibles". Styled in an exuberant, exotic (even, may we say, whimsical style), the ceramics produced by this remarkable atelier are superb examples of design and craftsmanship. Often inspired by wildlife, Ardmore Ceramics have been exhibited in leading galleries and collections around the world, including The Museum of Art & Design in New York and The Museum of Cultures in Basel (Switzerland). Ardmore's modern art style breaks ceramic conventions, using techniques resulting from years of experimentation with materials and processes. The vibrant colours and enormous attention to detail are simply superb! 

Swaziland is a small, landlocked monarchy in Southern Africa - best known for its wilderness reserves and festivals.

The borders of delightful Swaziland are shared with Mozambique and South Africa. The Lebombo Mountains, Mlawula Nature Reserve and the Hlane Royal National park are all fascinating spots to visit. Diverse wildlife including lions, hippos and elephants can be spotted throughout Swaziland.

The borders of delightful Swaziland are shared with Mozambique and South Africa. The Lebombo Moutains, Mlawula Nature Reserve and the Hlane Royal National park are all fascinating spots to visit. Diverse wildlife including lions, hippos and elephants can be spotted throughout Swaziland.

Swaziland is known for civility and peacefulness, making it a great place to begin to experience Africa. Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age.

Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age 200,000 years ago have been found in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Prehistoric rock art paintings date from c. 25,000 BC. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers who were largely replaced by the Bantu tribes who hailed from the Great Lakes regions of Eastern Africa.

Many interesting people were born in Swaziland. Noma Dumezweni is a Laurence Olivier Award winning actress who is now based in London. Noma played the role of Hermione Grainger in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and won a second Laurence Olivier Award for her performance. Luke Hall is a Swazi swimmer who competed at the 2008 an 2012 Summer Olympics. Leonard A. Payne was a British Flying Ace who was born in Swaziland and was credited with 11 confirmed aerial victories while piloting a Bristol F.2 Fighter.

There are almost too many nature reserves and animal sanctuaries in Swaziland to list! We've provided links to some of them (below) so you can view these amazing places.

Mlawula Nature Reserve

Hawane Nature Reserve

Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

Malolotja Nature Reserve

Hlane Royal National Park

Swazi (Swati or siSwati), a Southern Bantu language, is the national language of Swaziland, and is spoken by the majority of Swazi people. As both English and Swazi are the country's two official languages, English speaking visitors will encounter no language barrier. English is the medium of instruction, and is taught in all state and private schools. Competency in English is a prerequisite for admission into most post-secondary institutions. Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy and it is considered an act of terrorism to criticize King Mswati III. But as Swaziland's banned opposition continues to speak out, the international community turns a blind eye. King Mswati III has ruled the small country with its one million inhabitants since 1986. In 1973, Mswati's father Sobhuza II banned all political parties and declared a state of emergency, which is still in place today. The king governs the country's 55 administrative divisions, known as Tikhundla, through its chiefs. A lot of the population in Swaziland are rural subsistent farming communities and there may be a sense of distrust for political parties and political change. There is a support of the king and also of the Tikhundla system, which was developed as a system for community involvement.

King Mswati III

Sadly, although Swaziland is home to many wildlife parks and reserves, Swaziland has been accused by one of the world’s leading conservationists of being a puppet of South Africa in a bid to open the floodgates to a potentially calamitous legal rhino horn trade. We hope this changes soon!

 

Mlawula Nature Reserve

Handwoven or knit, these beautiful fashion scarves, shawls, wraps and home décor cushions, blankets and throws are the product of talented artisans from Swaziland. Using specially formulated dyes, they are able to achieve vivid, yet softly elegant colours.

• Gorgeous products created by local women in Swaziland giving them employment opportunities.
• Handmade every step of the process.
• Minimum environmental impact using natural fibres and biodegradable dyes.
• Designed with 'slow fashion', ensuring longevity and quality, encouraging slower production, fair wages and lower carbon footprints.
• Flavour of Africa with contemporary influence.

Handcrafted from all natural materials - merino wool, mohair & bamboo.

Teapots were invented back in the Yuan Dynasty (in China). The design likely progressed gradually from ceramic kettles and wine pots made of metals. Prior to that, only cauldrons were used to boil tea which was then served in bowls.

By the Ming Dynasty, use of the teapot was widespread in China.

Early teapots were small in comparison to what we use today, as they were usually designed for a single tea drinker. Believe it or not, once the tea was brewed, they usually drank it straight from the teapot spout! If I'd done that as a child, my grandmother would have clipped my ear! Different strokes for different folks, indeed.

They might have actually been onto something, as single portions of tea are easier to control with regard to flavour and are easier to repeat consistently.

From the 17th century onward, tea was shipped from China to Europe, along with exotic spices and other luxuries. Porcelain teapots, often painted in the familiar blue and white we associate with many Chinese ceramics, were also shipped out.

Here's a fun fact! Because porcelain is completely vitrified, it can stand subjection to seawater without harm. Therefore, the teapots could be stowed below deck. The tea, however, had to be stowed above deck in order to remain dry.

At first, tea drinkers in Europe were of the upper class

At that time, porcelain couldn't be made in Europe. So tea and teapots were fairly expensive, limiting consumption to those who could readily afford it. It wasn't until 1708 that Ehrenfriend Walther von Tschirnaus figured out how to make porcelain and started the Meissen Factory (in Dresden) in 1710.

In the Americas, Boston was a centre for silver craftsmanship. We're sure you've heard of the Revere family, whose works of art included teapots.

Paul Revere's Famous Ride

Early English homes used tea cosies to keep their teapot hot after the tea had brewed. They work - as we still utilize them today! Knitters and crocheters in our family used to compete for the most intricate and whimsical tea cosy creations!

Many people enjoy collecting teapots

I know, because I'm one of them! In all my years of collecting (and I have quite a few teapots), I have never seen such intricate, whimsical teapots as produced by Ardmore Studio. These teapots would be quite suitable on the table at The Mad Hatter's Tea Party! In fact, we're proud to tell you that some of our lovely ceramics from The Ardmore Collection are on display at the shop at the prestigious Gardiner Museum in Toronto now through the end of March 2018.

At first glance, most people can't tell that this is a teapot! Look closely and you will see that it is. Can't you just see this lovely piece on the tea table in Alice in Wonderland? We sure can!

The Ardmore Collection

On Springvale Farm, located in the KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), a most astounding art studio is found. Ardmore Ceramics has been acknowledged by the acclaimed auction house - Christie's - as producers of "modern day collectibles". Styled in an exuberant, exotic (even, may we say, whimsical style), the ceramics produced by this remarkable atelier are superb examples of design and craftsmanship. Often inspired by wildlife, Ardmore Ceramics have been exhibited in leading galleries and collections around the world, including The Museum of Art & Design in New York and The Museum of Cultures in Basel (Switzerland). Ardmore's modern art style breaks ceramic conventions, using techniques resulting from years of experimentation with materials and processes. The vibrant colours and enormous attention to detail are simply superb.

 

Bowls can be round. But they can also be square, rectangular, oval, oblong - you get the drift. And, not to put too fine a point on it, they can be used for a lot more than consuming liquids or foods.

Latte bowls for drinking coffee. Small tip bowls on your favourite coffee shop counter. Great big bowls for storing things like DVDs, pens, pencils, notepaper. Bowls to hold ever-multiplying remotes on your coffee table. Prep bowls for food. Condiment bowls for spices and relishes. Frankly, I have a fabric bowl on my desk (made by my talented sister who sews) that is what I call my flotsam and jetsam bowl. In other words, a catch-all for whatever I don't know what to do with!

Punch bowls abound at weddings and other celebrations. Big wooden salad bowls are used to create Caesar salads from scratch tableside in some restaurants.

Bowls can be made of many different types of materials such as ceramic,
porcelain, plastic, wood, stone, glass, metal - just to name what readily comes to mind.

Bowls have been in use for thousands of years

Bowls have been found dating back thousands of years in archeological digs in China, Ancient Greece and some Native American cultures.

In ancient Greece, bowls called phiales included a small dent in the centre of the bowl that enabled the bowl to be more easily held or steadied with a finger. Some sources think these phiales were used for perfume instead of wine or other liquids. Imagine! A perfume bowl.

• So far as we know, the oldest bowl ever found is 18,000 years old.
• Some Chinese pottery bowls have been dated back to the Neolithic period.

**Did you know that a bowl is also a standard unit of measure? One bowl is 3.75 cups or 887.2059 ml.**

The Ardmore Collection

 

 

Area rugs offer many practical benefits, from providing cushion underfoot to warmth to protecting floors from scuffs and scratches to separating cold, hard surfaces from tender bare feet. Area rugs also offer aesthetic value by framing a space and adding color and interest. Of the considerations when purchasing an area rug, two in particular stand out: criteria for selection and caring for the carpet! 

Select The Right Rug

According to HGTV, designers suggest building your décor from the floor up, beginning with the rug. Most people already have a color palette and style into which they must fit the new rug.

When it comes to area rugs, size matters. Begin with accurate measurement. Color and texture automatically draw the eye, so the rug will frame the area in which it sits. Experts disagree on whether furniture should sit on the rug. Because it serves as a focal point, a rug large enough for furniture to straddle ties the pieces together visually as a cohesive unit. In rooms dominated by a single large piece of furniture, such as a bedroom, rugs add coziness when placed alongside furniture or partially under furniture to tie the room together.

When matching rugs to existing décor, Lowe’s further suggests following “the 60-30-10 rule. About 60% of the room is your dominant color, such as the walls or the largest piece of furniture. 30% is a secondary color — this is where your rug color choice comes in. And 10% is an accent color, like vases and lamps.”

Also, consider patterns. Just as one normally wouldn’t mix plaids, paisleys, and stripes together in the same outfit, the dictates of good taste also apply to a room’s décor. Boldly patterned wallpaper and/or upholstery and drapes in a room call for solid or subtle designs in the carpet, with the opposite also being true.

Finally, evaluate the foot traffic in the area where the rug will be placed and the materials from which the rug is made. High-traffic areas demand rugs that will withstand heavy use, resist stains, and hide dirt. Rugs exposed to lots of natural light should resist fading. Different fibers vary with regard to fade resistance, stain resistance, durability, and ease of care.

Care For Your Carpet

Dirt and grime accelerate deterioration of rugs. Proper maintenance of area rugs involves weekly vacuuming and occasional deep cleaning. Do not run the vacuum cleaner over a rug’s fringe; the rollers will damage it. Brush the pile in the direction of the rug’s nap to loosen and remove pet hair. Rotate area rugs every four to six months for even wear and exposure to sunlight. Vigorously shake small rugs outside to remove dirt and grime.

Fur, sheepskin, leather, hair-on hide, handmade, antique, woven, and braided area rugs often require special attention to keep them clean and looking their best. 

Many small woven and braided rugs are washable. If so, deep cleaning is easy. Place the rug in a zippered pillowcase or mesh laundry bag, wash in cool water, rinse thoroughly, and tumble dry on low heat. Large rugs can be sponged clean with a commercial carpet cleaning solution, followed by rinsing and then vacuuming when dry. Delicate wool and oriental rugs, sheepskin, and hair-on hide rugs should be professionally cleaned. Traditional home cleaning methods for fur and hide rugs involves talcum powder which has been labeled a carcinogen.

The Kaya Collection

Zawadee invites you to shop the rugs that combine style, color, texture, and ease of care with the beauty and quality of natural fabrics. Handmade and sturdy, the rugs can be washed—smaller rugs are machine washable. Made from recycled textiles and handwoven in Johannesburg, South Africa, each unique rug adds designer quality at affordable prices.

Even though we are seeing a remarkable rise in popularity of African art and culture here in the Western world, it is amazing how much misinformation and misconception still exists. Let's take a look at some of these misconceptions and hopefully gain a better understanding and appreciation.

Misconception #1

Africa Is A Country

Let’s start with perhaps the biggest piece of misinformation that exists about Africa – it is not a country. It’s a continent and it is comprised of more than 50 distinct countries. Now that this is out of the way, let’s take a look at some other misunderstandings.

Misconception #2

We Can’t Do Anything To Help

Many assume that there is little we can do to help and assume the entire continent is like what we see in commercials on TV. There are many ways that we can help regions of Africa that are in need. Zawadee gives back in three ways . . .

• charitable donations through charity: water (Zawadee donates 2% of all sales and also supports).
• Supporting African Artisans and Entrepreneurs through micro funding. These methods help to empower African artisans and entrerpeneurs.
• providing a sales, marketing and distribution channel for African artisans and entrepreneurs

Zawadee remains committed to supporting the empowerment of African artisans and entrepreneurs.

Misconception #3

Africa Is Homogenous

Africa is one of the most diverse continents. This diversity is reflected in the multitude of arts and unique cultures. In general, there are five main regions: North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa. Art collectors and aficionados often look for African art based on these regional divides, however, distinctly different cultures and artistic expression occur within each region as well.

Misconception # 4

Africa Is Primitive

Many people think the entire continent is primitive, poor and war stricken. Not true at all! There are many progressive areas, and African art, culture, architecture and fashion have evolved significantly over the years. While African artisans are perhaps best known for their traditional wood carved sculptures and masks, African art continues to evolve. The growing community of contemporary artists and their creativity that are on display in art shows and galleries around the world is the proof of this constantly changing, constantly developing creativity.

Misconception #5

African Art Is Cursed

Many examples of African culture have spiritual meaning and can be associated with mythological and cultural spirits, namely the Shetani. Every piece, whether mask, sculpture, carving, painting, etc., is meant to communicate an aspect of culture, history, heritage. And, as with any artistic expression, some are lighter and more holistically spiritual and some are darker - communicating a more negative slant.

Hopefully, we've helped you gain a better appreciation for African art and culture!

Although archeologists date the world’s earliest pottery to 14,000 B.C. in China and Japan; Africans have been making pottery since about the 7th century B.C., testifying to the enduring utility of clay from which pottery is made with the skill spreading to the western coast by 400 B.C.

No good idea stays home!

A Brief History Of African Pottery

In the early ages of pottery, survival reigned and form followed function. Gradually, potters introduced aesthetics to their craft, adding colored glazes and etched designs and finally creative shapes. Pottery might be considered one of the very oldest examples of decorative art applied to utilitarian objects. North African factories could not compete with inexpensive imports of pottery from China and the Middle East; but, below the Sahara Desert, the craft continued to flourish.

In sub-Saharan Africa, pottery was generally considered women’s work, although that varied by tribe. The segregation of pottery-making by gender imbued the craft with the superstitions and cultural biases attendant upon the assigned gender. Symbolism and meaning imbued the shapes and designs of these ceramics.

Overall, with no use of a potter's wheel, clay pots were molded into the desired shape, and used mostly for cooking food or storing water.

According to All-About-African-Art.com, the central region of Africa produced pottery with a deep and lustrous finish and the Congolese people used plant-based dyes for color. The Mangbetu people mixed human and animal designs, incorporating clay shaped into beaks as spouts and handles. Potters added other materials for both functionality and beauty, including basketwork covers.

African pottery reflects the diversity of the continent’s many cultures.

The lack of a potter’s wheel affects the pottery. Traditional African pottery is fashioned through coiling and molding techniques passed down through the generations, which yields a certain consistency in design and aesthetics. According to Ceramics and Pottery Arts and Resources, “Terracotta clay is most commonly used, fired in the open, to produce pots of remarkable durability. Their pottery wares embody a refined understanding of material, process, and embellishment that conjures a deceptive simplicity.”

Although terracotta remains the most commonly used material, other clays abound on the vast continent. Clay might be mined from termite hills in Namibia, the banks and beds of streams in the western rainforests, and pits in bare earth in the more arid regions.

A Link Between Art And Earth

Both fragile and durable, African pottery comes in an amazing variety of sizes and shapes and epitomize both art and craft through the merging of aesthetics and utility. The artisans expressing imagination and utility in clay and colored glazes demonstrate the full range of sub-Saharan pottery talent.

Pots, jars, platters, candlesticks, vases, bowls, and more synthesize traditional craftsmanship and regional design influences with sublime creativity. A bird’s beak or a monkey’s tail serves as a handle or spout. Birds, sables, millipedes, and leopards perch, leap, and crawl to combine symbolic meaning with prosaic function and native beauty. The malleability of hand-formed clay allows for more fantastic shapes than a potter’s wheel without the contrived elegance.

African pottery such as featured in the offered by offers connoisseurs of ceramics a vibrant link between artistic beauty and Mother Earth.

Scarves come in myriad materials, lengths, shapes, patterns, and colors. They add glamour without flashy glitter or sparkle. Colorful scarves, perhaps with bold prints or stripes, add interest and a pop of brilliance to a neutral wardrobe. Neutrally colored scarves impart classic elegance and sophistication. Dress Like a Parisian recommends choosing natural fabrics, not cheap synthetics: “The scarf is right near your face and is one of the first things to be noticed.”

The brilliance of a scarf lies in its relatively inexpensive properties. Scarves refresh timeless classics, like the traditional black or camel colored wool coat. An array of scarves can make you feel like your wardrobe has expanded exponentially when all you’ve done is add a few small pieces. Essentially practical in nature, they also add warmth, protect modesty, direct attention, and conceal physical flaws. The variety of ways in which to tie and wear a scarf lend that simple article of clothing to many styles, from simple to intricate.

 

The dizzying array of options makes picking out one scarf that will coordinate with multiple outfits tricky.

Colors & Patterns

Scarves come in more than just basic black, white, or gray. With the myriad colors and patterns available, consider purchasing multiple scarves that both coordinate with selected outfits and work well with your skin tone, hair, and eyes. Begin by identifying your personal color profile. Many fashion-oriented websites explain how to do that, with the first step focusing on figuring out whether your color profile is warm or cool. According to VisiHow, determining one’s color profile takes only a quick glance at the underside of your wrist. If the veins running beneath the thin skin appear blue, then you’ve got a warm profile; greenish veins signify a cool profile. People with warm color profiles look good in watermelon, coral, yellow, dark green, and peacock blue. Royal or navy blue, gray, black, fuchsia, pink, mint, powder blue, and cherry flatter people with cool color profiles.

Discard items in colors that make you look sallow or tired or “washed-out.” Pink Lily describes how colors work together. In short, complementary colors help to mix warm and cool colors so they flatter rather than clash. Analogous colors harmonize with each other, cool with cool, warm with warm. Grouping your wardrobe by color helps to determine scarf colors that will look good with the clothing as well as against your skin!

Old rules governing style have relaxed. These days fashion permits mixing patterns with other patterns. When taking this bold step, carefully consider size and scale as well as color. According to Pink Lily, “You can pair a houndstooth coat with a houndstooth scarf in black and white, as long as you make sure the two prints are different sizes or feature inverted colors.” The site also reminds readers that pattern goes beyond color: textures in fabric also create patterns. Zawadee’s Fashion Accessories Fashion Accessories offers scarves in merino wool, mohair, and bamboo, which have different thermal properties, textures, patterns, weights and colors. You’re sure to find scarves that not only accessorize your wardrobe, but look good on you, too.

Cultures assign meaning to colors. Although silver is a specific metallic element with popular use in jewelry, its very color carries meaning to those who wear it and those who see it. A precious metal, its cool gleam imbues properties of gray and white, softer and brighter than polished steel. Don’t believe that? Put a silver spoon next to a steel spoon. You really can distinguished between them.

According to Bourne Creative, “Silver is believed to be a mirror to the soul, helping us to see ourselves as others see us. As a gemstone silver represents hope, unconditional love, meditation, mystic visions, tenderness, kindness, sensitivities, and psychic abilities.” Its reflective quality, used in mirrors, inspire meanings intuition, clairvoyance, and the occult—and contributed to the historically high cost of mirrors.

Color-Meanings.com builds upon that succinct identification of meaning for silver. Rather than focus solely on an unspecific geography or culture, it distinguishes between ancient and modern, Eastern and Western. In Hinduism, silver is believed to invite widowhood as well as a “deep significance in spirituality or connection with the higher self.” The Urdu term for silver (chandi) also means “soft spoken, eloquent, fluent and argent.”'

Not surprisingly, we mostly associate the color silver often with advanced age if only due to the natural loss of hair color that affects most people. Silver or gray hair and wrinkles confer an assumption of wisdom, insight, perspective, and knowledge acquired over decades of life experience. Color psychology’s perspective attributes traits of respect, courtesy, patience, and dignity—all characteristics often assigned to the elderly—to silver

Western cultures, especially in North America, associate the color silver with the modern. Silver is used to market things that are sleek and sophisticated and masculine. The Japanese also associate silver with masculinity and all things high-tech. Automotive manufacturers know that silver-colored vehicles imbue the desirable trait of high visibility. To the obverse, silver’s frequent and popular pairing with the moon confers a sense of femininity with the historical relation of lunar cycles and female biology. That connotation leads to a sense of fluidity, sensitivity, and mystery, traits often attributed to writers and artists.

Those traits and the association with the moon lead to a sense of the occult and mystical. A witch’s ceremonial knife—an athame—traditionally boasts a blade made of silver. Practitioners of magic use silver bowls and silver candlesticks. The fairies and elves of legend preferred silver, which is said not to tarnish in their mystical realms. Legend has it that paranormal creatures such as werewolves and vampires fear silver, which burns their flesh. Vampire hunters wear heavy silver necklaces and cuffs to deter those killing bites at commonly exposed pulse points.

“Sleek and sophisticated” often extend to “slick and persuasive” when referring to the stereotypical “silver-tongued devil” who deceives with quick talk and flattery. A valuable metal, silver confers a sense of wealth less blatant than gold. Wealthy people may be said to have been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, reminiscent of a time when only the very rich could afford silver eating utensils. Wealth often connotes the perception of glamor.

Whether you like silver for its soft gleam, bright reflection, quiet energy, mystic allusions, or shiny reflection, Zawadee’s offers something that will appeal to both men and women...!