Community beadwork and handmade craft
Africa Smiles
South Africa
Meet Angus and his team from Africa Smiles, a community-based organisation working with crafters across South Africa. Bringing traditional skills together with contemporary design, they create handmade pieces that travel from their hands into yours through Uqobo.
In the workshop
Watch the story take shape.
Craft and process
Beaded prodcuts
Read Africa Smiles's story
At Africa Smiles, our story is about the people behind the handmade pieces. We work with crafters in South African communities, bringing traditional art and craft together with contemporary design.
Our collection includes arts, crafts, beadwork and gifts, each made by hand. We also design our own African-inspired t-shirts and fabric pieces, printed with original artwork.
Through partnerships with people like Sam at Uqobo, we help crafters earn a steady income for themselves and their families, bringing their handmade pieces from their hands into yours.
Our collaboration
I’ve known Sam for years, so working with her through Uqobo felt like a natural step. It’s been lovely to see her turn a long-held idea into reality—working alongside communities to share beautifully handmade pieces with the wider world.
From their hands to yours