About Beehive Studios

Beehive Studios started in March 2021 as an ambitious project in Vredendal, on the West Coast of South Africa to offer local rural women and moms a sustainable skills-training and job-creation program. Inspired by the work of British textile designer of the 1800’s, William Morris, the project entailed the training of a group of local ladies to become proficient enough in the techniques and production of innovative and quality hand-printed textiles.

The program started at a small rural school and eventually developed into a sustainable and growing enterprise consisting of two parts: “Beehive Studios”, the driving source of artistic and business impetus, followed by “Namaqua Hand-printed Textiles”, an independent, BEE registered Corporation of which the original trainee ladies are today the proud director-owners, with their own staff.

Beehive Studios aims to host and develop other similar projects within the textile, décor and craft industry. Apart from designing and producing trendy and up-market products, the focus is on people; and a serious, consistent drive to bring hope and opportunity to rural women.

We work only with 100 % natural-organic fabrics such as hemp, cotton and linen. Although cotton and linen are just as eco-friendly, hemp fabric has superior absorbency due to its porous nature, and is thus very breathable and quick-drying. Hemp can absorb up to 20 % of its own weight while still feeling dry to the touch, and just becomes better with every wash. Hemp is fully bio-degradable and easily recyclable, which also enables us to recycle the fabrics into baskets.

Uniquely designed items such as table linen, kitchen ware, bed linen and décor items are manufactured to be distributed and sold nation-wide, as well as abroad. The products in all their variety, are available at the factory shop in Vredendal, Facebook, Instagram, and our Website.