South African Shweshwe Plush Toys
Artistic African Toys
Share African artistry with these soft plush toys, handmade from traditional shweshwe fabric. These adorable African plush toys are perfect for playtime and snuggling, serving as a unique way to connect kids with the rich tapestry of African tradition. Choose between the African hippo, ferocious lion and elegant elephant plush toys.
Handmade in South Africa
Made of traditional shweshwe cotton fabric
Plush Toy Dimensions: Around 8” x 5”
Ages 3 and up
Free Shipping
*Each plush toy is wrapped in a unique shweshwe fabric design, so the plush toy you receive may not match the design in our product photos.
All sales final. No refunds, returns or exchanges.
Artistic African Toys
Share African artistry with these soft plush toys, handmade from traditional shweshwe fabric. These adorable African plush toys are perfect for playtime and snuggling, serving as a unique way to connect kids with the rich tapestry of African tradition. Choose between the African hippo, ferocious lion and elegant elephant plush toys.
Handmade in South Africa
Made of traditional shweshwe cotton fabric
Plush Toy Dimensions: Around 8” x 5”
Ages 3 and up
Free Shipping
*Each plush toy is wrapped in a unique shweshwe fabric design, so the plush toy you receive may not match the design in our product photos.
All sales final. No refunds, returns or exchanges.
Artistic African Toys
Share African artistry with these soft plush toys, handmade from traditional shweshwe fabric. These adorable African plush toys are perfect for playtime and snuggling, serving as a unique way to connect kids with the rich tapestry of African tradition. Choose between the African hippo, ferocious lion and elegant elephant plush toys.
Handmade in South Africa
Made of traditional shweshwe cotton fabric
Plush Toy Dimensions: Around 8” x 5”
Ages 3 and up
Free Shipping
*Each plush toy is wrapped in a unique shweshwe fabric design, so the plush toy you receive may not match the design in our product photos.
All sales final. No refunds, returns or exchanges.
From Fashion to Plush Toys: History of the Iconic Shweshwe Fabric
Shweshwe is an ornate printed cotton fabric that is manufactured in South Africa and used to create garments all around the world. The iconic fabric was first produced several centuries ago in India and Bengal. Coveted for its wide variety of intricate patterns and distinctive indigo color, which came from a plant native to East Asia, the fabric had become a popular import throughout western Europe during the 17th century.
During the 1840s, French colonists visited King Moshoeshoe I, who ruled over modern day Lesotho -- a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. The French presented the indigo dyed fabric to the king, who endorsed its use throughout his kingdom. Shweshwe got its name after the king.
The cloth was further popularized in southern Africa during the 1850s, when German colonists arrived in the Eastern Cape. They too brought the indigo fabric, which gradually became popular among a large segment of the Xhosa women who inhabited southern Africa.
During 1890, a synthetic indigo colorant was developed to replace the indigo dye that could only be grown in East Asia. This was the only hue used for the fabric until the 1980s when chocolate brown and vibrant red colors were introduced by South African textilists.
Today, authentic shweshwe is only manufactured at the Da Gama factory in the rural village of Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape. Each new shweshwe design is created in adherence to a large manual containing hundreds of samples. This ensures the new designs maintain the timeless appearance of traditional shweshwe. From fashionable attire to African toys, the shweshwe fabric remains a historic icon.