Historical information

Made by Mavis Kaross people in South Africa/Mozambique and presented to Pam Breukhoven in friendship.
Embroidery is a traditional skill for most Vatsonga and Northern Sotho people.
Kaross revived this skill by making it commercially viable and has grown into a South African success story that now employs around 1300 embroiderers in the Letsitele/Giyani area.
It produces a comprehensive range of premium quality products from placemats to cushion covers, handbags and wall hangings. These individual hand-crafted works of art retail through outlets in major tourist hubs such as our international airports, or direct to the public through the newly launched Kaross online shop.

Significance

Irma van Rooyen, Founder of Kaross, says - the Tsonga people told me their stories and I became inspired. By their humanity, their space, their life - so utterly proud. By their eagerness to be involved and to be part of the project. These talented women and men, together, raised up the Kaross project from its beginning.
And now, the drive to never give up, to keep on exploring and developing and growing. And learning to be stronger together. To you, whose path I am privileged to share, I owe my inspiration.
The Tsonga people (Vatsonga) are a diverse Bantu ethnic group primarily inhabiting southern Mozambique, South Africa (Limpopo/Mpumalanga), and parts of Zimbabwe and Eswatini.

Physical description

Picture of a rhinoceros and a tree, stitched in perle threads, navy, rust, cream, blue, aqua, purple, green. Mounted in a frame (dark brown timber) and steel mount.

Inscriptions & markings

MAVIS KAROSS