Nazeema Solomons

It’s safe to say, Nazeema Solomons knows her way around a loom. From hand-spinning patterns to knotting yarn, she’s spent over forty years perfecting the craft as Head Weaver at Coral and Hive, a rug-maker in the heart of South Africa (and a new-found favourite here at Anthro).

“Designing a rug is a special process. It allows you the time to slow down and escape to a world of age-old skills,” she explains. Something she shares with her band of all-female artisans.

Sourcing materials from ethical and local farmers and shunning machinery in favour of traditional by-hand techniques, they’ve dedicated themselves to crafting sustainably. As Nazeema puts it – there’s a satisfaction in knowing you’ve not contributed negatively to nature, and that every piece has a wonderful story to tell.

So, how did her colourful career begin, we hear you ask? As it turns out, a chance encounter sparked it all.

“I walked into the correct number building but on the wrong street,” says Nazeema who was heading for an interview at a flower market, aged nineteen. As she realised her mistake, a woman approached, asking if she was looking for a job as a weaver. “Finding work was hard those days, so I saw the opportunity and went for it.”

It wasn’t long before she was promoted to head supervisor. Despite being a novice, the hands-on approach soon unlocked a passion in her that she never knew she had. “Weaving flows out of you,” she says. “It’s an expression of art and feeling – a form of therapy for me, an outlet – whether I’m happy or sad.” Her dexterity didn’t go unnoticed and was offered work with Coral and Hive as well as a share in the business.

It’s here, at the helm of the factory (a place she says is never not filled with laughter and chatter) that Nazeema’s passion for detail continues to flourish. Take the fabric process. When the wool arrives, it’s washed and treated to ensure there are no pests. Then, hung out in the sunshine to set the fibres. Even once woven (with the finest mohair wool, cotton, jute or Indian Karakul), each rug is checked again to ensure the finest finish.

With craft so embedded in the continent’s heritage, it’s no surprise she works with an aura of perfectionism. For many, weaving represents something far more than just a vocation. “Women of Africa have always worked with their hands – making pots from river clay or baskets from the reeds. It’s a skill that is passed down from mother to daughter,” she explains. An authenticity they take immense pride in.

The factory is located in a bustling part of Cape Town but one that’s also rife with drug abuse. Through the years, Nazeema has trained over five hundred women to take to the loom – and even works on weekends, teaching local children to do the same. “It’s meaningful work. I’m happy to be keeping them busy and off the streets.”

And it's that heart which permeates through each weave, thread and yarn in Coral and Hive's designs, a connection they hope reaches every customer. “By sharing our story and process I hope to keep our craft recognised and respected, and that people understand how much love has gone into every piece.”