Hundreds of seamstresses throughout the world create garments made with shweshwe fabric, yet few know its rich history.
The only place where shweshwe is manufactured is at the Da Gama factory in the rural village of Zwelitsha near King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape.and we bring it closer to you here at Essops
Each shweshwe design is created in adherence to a large manual – a book containing hundreds of samples of the designs. Each design must be true to the originals – or a slight variation thereof. This ensures that new shweshwe designs maintain its iconic, classic, and tasteful appearance. Fake shweshwe tends to be less structured and ordered and may appear garish.
“Original” Shweshwe
Genuine shweshwe, or what Da Gama calls “original” shweshwe, is made from 100% quality cotton. It is always 90cm wide as opposed to other fabrics which are usually 150cm. Original shweshwe has a characteristic scent and a stiff, starchy feel. Once washed, the fabric softens.
Another way to tell whether your shweshwe is real is by tasting it. Original shweshwe has a salty taste.

COME AT ESSOPS AND CHOOSE FROEM A WIDE RANGE OF THE 3 CATS SHWE SHWE DRESS MATERIALS,

The Three Cats range is sourced from a closed library of designs with a small injection of new designs to keep the range interesting and up-to-date.
‎Three Cats · ‎Catalogues · ‎Three Cats Panels · ‎3 Leopards Contemporary..
We’ve got some really exciting news at Essops, We now stock Shwe shwe fabric from South Africa. We are starting with a selection of 10 new prints from the Three Cats range. come at ESSOPS and make your choice from a wide range of colors and designs of 3 cats dress materials at affordable prices
shwe shwe is a printed dyed cotton fabric widely used for traditional South African clothing and now for even more uses. Originally dyed indigo, the fabric is now produced in a variety of colors and designs usually of intricate geometric patterns.  It is also sometimes referred to as ‘German Print’, ‘Ujamani’ or ‘Blauwdruk’

We have a wide range of THE Three Cats Dress materials in new designs with a small injection of new drawings to keep the range interesting and up-to-date.
‎Three Cats · ‎Catalogues · ‎Three Cats Panels · ‎3 Leopards Contemporary..

We have a wide range of THE Three Cats Dress materials in new designs with a small injection of new drawings to keep the range interesting and up-to-date.
‎Three Cats · ‎Catalogues · ‎Three Cats Panels · ‎3 Leopards Contemporary..

We have a wide range of THE Three Cats Dress materials in new designs with a small injection of new drawings to keep the range interesting and up-to-date.
‎Three Cats · ‎Catalogues · ‎Three Cats Panels · ‎3 Leopards Contemporary..

Here are some ways to enjoy Heritage weekend in Klerksdorp and the neighboring towns. ESSOPS has got you covered with all your needs come and make choice of your desired items from a wide rage of quality products at special prices.

A True Workhorse
The Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machine is designed with your heavy duty projects in mind, from denim to canvas. Thanks to the machine’s powerful motor, you have extra high sewing speed to save you time.
With adjustable presser foot pressure, you can also sew very lightweight sheers, and the stainless steel bedplate allows fabrics to glide over the machine with ease. Create original costumes, sew personalized fashions or transform your home with new decorator pillows and curtains. Among the 110 stitch applications is a one-step buttonhole, giving you consistent results every time for projects you’ll be proud to say you made yourself.

we now have a variety of singer sewing machines in stock, from home to industrial use with different prices and sizes. Keep sewing simple with the best sewing machines for your sewing projects. Whether you’re looking for a machine that is the best of the basics, a portable sewing machine that is lightweight, a Heavy Duty workhorse, or a computerized sewing machine for the modern-day sewing. Essops has got has your sewing needs covered. Get the most out of your sewing experience with features like decorative built-in stitches, an automatic needle threader, a top drop-in bobbin, and more. Don’t forget to add a professional finish to your projects with an easy-to-use SINGER serge.

A True Workhorse
The Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machine is designed with your heavy duty projects in mind, from denim to canvas. Thanks to the machine’s powerful motor, you have extra high sewing speed to save you time.
With adjustable presser foot pressure, you can also sew very lightweight sheers, and the stainless steel bedplate allows fabrics to glide over the machine with ease. Create original costumes, sew personalized fashions or transform your home with new decorator pillows and curtains. Among the 110 stitch applications is a one-step buttonhole, giving you consistent results every time for projects you’ll be proud to say you made yourself.

One of the most important aspects to consider when redoing or updating a room, is the colour balance. To some, the instinct for putting colours together comes naturally. For others, like myself, not so much. So, for those who need a little guidance on how to overcome this predicament, here are a few tips on balancing the colour in a space that really pops!

First, a few do’s and don’ts:
• DON’T be afraid to use the colours you love, even if they are intense. There are many ways of adding a colour to a space without being overwhelmed by it, from a scatter cushion to an intense green painted cabinet. Finding colours that compliment your choice is the key to making it work.
• DO consider thee colours that are already present in a room – and how much you want to invest or change. Depending on the scope of the change you have in mind, remember to work these colours into the overall palette.
• DO learn how to spot the difference between warm and cool colours. Knowing the colour temperature will help you to make decisions regarding colour combinations that much simpler. (And this includes colours we know as ‘neutral.’)
• DO always test a paint colour in the room you are considering painting. If you are shopping online, the appearance of the colour will depend on the quality and resolution of your computer monitor. Similarly, the colours you view on paint strips in the store reflects how it will look in the store’s light, and not necessarily your living room.
• DON’T be intimidated by conventional decorating wisdom that you must use light colours in small spaces. Dark colours with light accents can create a truly stylish effect in a small space. Rather than worry about making a small room look larger, focus on making it feel amazing.

To bring all of this together in a breath-taking space to match your vision, use the timeless decorating 60-30-10 rule:

The 60 is the 60% used of your main colour in the room. This is mostly made up of walls, area rugs and large furniture like a sofa. The main colour serves as the anchor colour in the space.

The 30 is the 30% of your secondary colour. This literally means using half as much of this secondary colour as you did of the primary or main colour. Think, throws, accent chairs, painted furniture or even an accent wall. The idea is that the secondary colour supports the primary colour but differs enough so that it gives the space interest.

The 10 is the 10% accent colour – and this is where the fun really lies. Your accent colour is found in your scatter cushions, accessories, lamps candles or even the artwork. To add extra style, pull the accent colour from the artwork or printed fabric that is prominent in the room.

Use the colour wheel when applying this decorating rule and it will make choosing complimenting colours simple and help you achieve balance in your spaces.

Fabric Love
Essops
www.essopskld.co.za

As a writer, certainly the most frightening thing to face is a blank page. This is true for all writers, ask them. I imagine it is quite the same moving into a new space with a blank canvas of space and full executive control over how to style and furnish it.

Once the colour palette is settled (refer to last week’s blog for help in that area) the next big puzzle begins: Will the that gorgeous sofa I saw in the shop fit in this space? (Or even through the door?) Before you start digging for tape measure (and yes you will need it) read on for some tips on how to choose the right size furniture for the space you are setting up.

First, the basics. It may sound redundantly obvious but decide on what you will be using each room for. This depends on your lifestyle as much as the “designated room name.” Do you love to through dinner parties? A good-sized dining room would work for that. Or are you more a casual, eat in front of the TV kind of family? Then a smaller dining room table would free up space for you to use.

The living room has become the heart of the modern home, the space where we unwind after a long day, watch TV, play with the kids or catch up with friends. Comfort is king in a living room, but keep in mind it is usually also the first impression guests have of your home, so try to balance comfort with style.

After deciding on how you want the room to be laid out and what the focus area (if any) should be, we’re back to that sofa. Consider the size of the sofa, and whether you will have extra seating such as a smaller love seat or any chairs. Do you plan to add a coffee table and how much space do you want to allow for it?

Time for the tape measure. Check if the sofa will fit in the space by keeping spacing rules in mind: The sofa should be roughly two meters from the TV. The coffee table should be placed about half a meter from the sofa with all other pieces of furniture spaced no further than three meters from the sofa. This ensures conversation can flow freely yet keep the space cohesive and cosy. Now you can start your calculations and tape measuring, calculating the breadth of the furniture when laid out and then measuring the size of your empty space. (And don’t forget the door!)

Remember that you are building a space in which you will live for a long time to come, so don’t sacrifice comfort to comply with any pre-set rules of design. It is your house, you must feel you own the space, that it feels like ‘you.’

Fabric Love
Essops
www.essopskld.co.za