Welcome to our weaving journey...

In 1997, A French-born visionary named Christine Daron set foot on the vibrant shores of South Africa, drawn by the allure of the new horizons and cultural tapestries waiting to be woven. Little did she know that this voyage would be the beginning of a remarkable narrative that would intertwine creativity, heritage, and craftmanship.

It was the humble tea towel that became her canvas, and memories of iconic African cities and wildlife her inspiration. With each delicate thread, she wove stories inspired by Africa’s landscapes and cultures.

For years to follow, her profound connection with the land and its people unfurled, and in 2014, driven by a desire to capture the essence of Africa she embarked on a weaving odyssey that would birth African Jacquard.

The looms continued to hum, and African Jacquard’s  journey ventured deeper into the realm of textile artistry. In 2018, Christine’s vision expanded, giving rise to more intricate textile creations. Every stitch told a tale, every weave an invitation to embrace the sumptuous luxury of African elegance.

Angama Mara Safari Camp, Kenya

Sussuro Boutique Hotel, Mozambique

Xigera Sarari Lodge, Botswana

Sussurro Luxury Lodge, Namibia

In 2020 African Jacquard unveiled its splendour in New York and Sweden for the first time, two iconic stages where Africa’s beauty transcended borders. 

The year 2021 was a new chapter penned in the heart of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. The Watershed became the sanctuary where African Jacquard’s treasures found their first home.

And across the ocean, Paris called in 2022. The City of Lights bore witness to the fusion of African and European elegance.

Stellenbosch, nestled amidst vineyards and dreams, became the canvas for African Jacquard’s next endeavour. In 2022, a second retail haven was born, an embodiment of Africa’s grace amidst the fertile landscapes of the Cape Winelands.

With the year 2023 came another chapter etched in Cape Town’s history. Church Street welcomed African Jacquard’s third retail store, an ode to the city’s heartbeat, where tradition and innovation intertwined in a harmonious embrace.

Today, African Jacquard is guided by the hands of over twenty talented individuals, and its creations have spread their wings to over twenty five nations and beyond, each piece a testament to Africa’s spirit.

At the heart of our mission is the design, weaving, and manufacturing of quality home textiles that are not only elegant but deeply meaningful. Our values of passion, originality, attentiveness, and consideration guide us in creating textiles that reflect the spirit of Africa.

 

 We embrace a personal touch in customer interactions, actively seek ways to minimize our environmental impact, and contribute positively to local communities. African Jacquard is more than a brand; it’s a journey into the soul of Africa where tradition meets adventure in the world of luxury home textiles.

So let this tale be woven into your soul, an ode to African Jacquard’s journey from humble tea towels to sumptuous textiles that grace the world’s stages, a testament to the power of dreams, determination, and the artistry that binds us all.

What is Jacquard weaving?

In the tapestry of textile history, the roots of Jacquard weaving unfold in a captivating story that spans centuries and continents. Our journey begins in early 19th-century France, a time when the industrial revolution was reshaping the fabric of society.

Meet Joseph Marie Jacquard, an inventive silk weaver hailing from Lyon, a city steeped in the tradition of silk trade. In 1804, Jacquard introduced a groundbreaking mechanism that would revolutionize the world of weaving. His creation, the Jacquard loom, was an engineering marvel.

Central to the Jacquard loom was a punch card system, a brilliant concept enabling precise control of individual warp threads. Each card, perforated with holes corresponding to specific patterns, served as a code directing the intricate interplay of threads. This technological leap allowed weavers to produce elaborate designs with unprecedented ease and accuracy.

Joseph Marie Jacquard’s invention marked a pivotal moment in textile production, transforming weaving from a labor-intensive craft to a more efficient and streamlined process. Complex patterns that were once laborious to create became accessible to a wider audience, ushering in a new era of artistic expression within the textile industry.

Word of the Jacquard loom’s capabilities transcended the borders of France, influencing textile manufacturing across Europe and beyond. Today, the legacy of Joseph Marie Jacquard lives on in the rhythmic hum of looms worldwide, including those at African Jacquard in Cape Town, South Africa. The marriage of tradition and innovation continues to shape the intricate patterns adorning luxury home textiles, a testament to the enduring brilliance of a weaver’s vision from centuries past.