Janine Goosen and Liesl van Rensburg are two South African women who, whilst living and working in a community brought to its knees by poverty and the devastating effects of AIDS, started a small company, BamBela, meaning to hold or embrace.

Our aim has been to nurture creativity, and reintroduce dignity to people who can be proud of their work and be paid a fair wage for it. Many of our craftsmen are entrepreneurs who have taken it upon themselves to learn an intricate craft with little assistance, and who in turn employ and train others in their communities. Each BamBela product is made with pride, care and by hand in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa.