Justin Van Breda announces Cape Looms, a project that builds community through craft and quality. Hand weaving traditional flatweave rugs in mohair and wool in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Looms bring women weavers together, to hone their craft and develop an autonomous skill set – enabling them to financially support their families whilst keeping a heritage craft alive and delivering an international quality of product.

South Africa is the largest Mohair producer in the world, and Cape Looms procures the fibres directly from the farmers. Wool and mohair are blended and spun by hand and woven on their own looms - one of which is the largest hand weaving loom in Africa, affectionately named Miriam Makeba. Blending qualities during the spinning process creates depth of texture that allow the fibres to sing in juxtaposition to one another. The fibres can all be hand dyed in small batches to ensure a perfect saturation and colour match. They have chosen 18 wonderful hues as part of their collection however they can also match to a colour sample.

Working with wool and in Africa is coming full circle for Justin, whose family founded the wool farming industry in South Africa in the early 1800s. It is a privilege to work with the weavers and farmers, to build a community and to bring these wonderful rugs to the market.

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VISIT THE CAPE LOOMS WEBSITE TO DISCOVER MORE

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