The Blowing Room

The seemingly effortless and ordered chaos of the blowing room

The Shops

Ngwenya Glass

Ngwenya Glass shop boasts our vast range of tableware and African animals, from classical to quirky wineglasses, large center pieces and one off pieces made in our onsite glass blowing factory. Our animal range covers the big five: Elephants, Leopards, Buffalo, Rhinos and Lions. Plus a whole range of aquatic and airborne animals.

Baobab Batik

Amid the picturesque mountains of Malkerns, Swaziland, on a dairy farm surrounded by pineapple fields you will find Baobab Batik. Founded by Els Hooft in 1991, with the aim of sharing her passion for batik, whilst building sustainable economic and social solutions for women in Swaziland. www.baobab-batik.com

Gone Rural

Gone Rural is a revolutionary leader in social enterprise. Inspired by 750 women weavers, we rethink & transform craft, taking it to new heights globally. www.goneruralswazi.com

Quazi Design

Quazi Design is a cutting edge craft company that transforms waste magazines into original accessories and interiors, believing that the combination of craftsmanship and innovation is a powerful tool to promote stability in the developing world. www.quazidesign.com

Tintsaba

Our Signature Collection represents the finest woven sisal baskets and refined Sisal and Silver Jewellery, and is created by our most experienced Master Weavers and Silversmiths. www.tintsaba.com

The Chocolate Shop

The Chocolate Shop produces hand-made Belgian style chocolate right here in Swaziland. An indulgent mix of beautiful chocolate shapes unusual flavours such as chilli, peanut butter and cocoa dusted truffles.

Rosecraft

Rosecraft weave colourful garments, bags and other fine items http://www.rosecraft.net

Arrum Lilly

Young designer Tanya Aab is making waves with her line of one-of-a-kind fashion pieces. Tanya is making sassy, flirty dresses and outfits in tshweshwe fabrics arrumlilly.co.za

Eswatini Kitchen

Eswatini Kitchen is a Fair Trade producer of natural gourmet food from Swaziland. Our wide range of 100% natural and traditionally made jams, marmalades, honey, sauces, chutneys and atchars www.eswatinikitchen.co.sz

Black Mamba

Based in the African kingdom of Swaziland, we make fair trade, gourmet chilli products with fresh ingredients – & no artificial stuff! https://www.facebook.com/BlackMambaChilliVenom

The Blowing Room

The Glass Blowers

They work seemingly effortless through out the day making all manor of glassware items. One team blows wine glass, the next makes animal and the last team is reserved for anything out of the ordinary.

 

The furnace

This runs on a mix of KFC cooking oil sourced from all over Swaziland, old engine oil and a mix of parafin is added to reach the melting temperature of 1350 degree centigrade. We load the furnace each night with bottle glass collected from all over Swaziland.

 

The Lehr

This continuous feed oven/kiln is 12 meters long. At one end where the finished item are stowed the temperature is at 580 degrees centigrade. With varying temperatures throughout the conveyor, from 580 down to room temperature, the glass takes around 6 hours to get to the other end.

Videos

Testmonials

With a deck overlooking the glassblowers, what a marvel to see how recycled glass bottles are transformed into wild animals, glasses, chess pieces, trinkets etc. Beautiful hand made pieces close to the border at Mbabane.

Leanne D - Pretoria, South Africa

I visited this complex on a guided tour of Swaziland. It was a welcome dose of retail therapy after several days of camping and game viewing. The main attraction is the glass factory where you can watch the process from a viewing gallery. There are so many lovely pieces to buy and they wrap them well for the journey home

Joylon - London, United Kingdom

The atmosphere in the factory area is worth a visit alone. Exciting and with a vibe and energy that is palpable and unique. A great collection of shops and Fair Trade to boot. The glass showroom is also a wonderful surprise with unique products that beg to be bought.

Garth J - Johannesburg

Fantastic experience and worth half a day of your time to see craftsmen at work first hand. Very nice shop display, also supported by fascinating local " craft" style shops on site.

Pat M - Ringwood, United Kingdom

A must visit if you're in Swaziland. Locals are encouraged to bring glass here to be recycled and made into beautiful glass pieces. You're able to go into the actual factory and watch as they heat and shape the glass. How interesting!

Celicia - New York City, New York
Visit our new shop in Cape Town The Watershed! V & A Waterfront We are excited to be sharing our space with Quazi Design, Gone Rural and Tintsaba