Must-see shopping in Africa

  • Thesis

    Gauteng

    Typifying the new Soweto are the crew who run Thesis, a streetware brand selling colourful design T-shirts and hats made locally. Next to the boutique is…

  • Ashanti

    Cape Town

    Baskets, mats, lampshades, pillows, bags and cushions are among the many rainbow-coloured products on sale at this great artisan design shop that creates…

  • Chandler House

    Cape Town

    Michael Chandler showcases his quirky ceramic homewares and decorative pieces in this well-edited collection of imaginative local arts and crafts, which…

  • Stable

    Cape Town

    A one-stop shop for a variety of South African designers' products, including very portable items such as clothes hooks, fridge magnets, skinny leather…

  • Yusufi Antiques & Gallery

    Mombasa

    A real treasure trove of carvings and masks, particularly from West Africa and the Congo, as well as fetishes, brass lanterns and other goodies. Some…

  • Book Lounge

    Cape Town

    The hub of Cape Town’s literary scene, thanks to its great selection of titles, comfy chairs, simple cafe and busy program of events. There are up to…

  • Souq Arabe

    Taroudant

    The main souq, also known as the grand souq, has wonderful antique leather goods, textiles and jewellery shops hidden in the quiet streets. It's slightly…

  • Zinj

    Kilifi

    This home-run design store of international reputation is located near the southern edge of Kilifi Creek. You'll find stylish leather bags adorned with…

  • KaSaWa

    Monrovia

    A fair-trade initiative that brings together designers and producers from Robertsport. The assortment includes colourful bags and clothes. The group often…

  • Handmade by Me

    Cape Town

    Sera Holland is the artist responsible for the colourful, floral and abstract designs on the fabric items – cushion covers, napkins, table runners etc –…

  • Bluecollarwhitecollar

    Cape Town

    There's an eye-catching selection of tailored men's and women's shirts from this locally based fashion brand – formal (white collar) and informal (blue…

  • Zein Art

    Nouakchott

    A gallery curating the very best work from Mauritanian artists and craftspeople. Periodically hosts exhibitions themed around art and artists in the…

  • Stefania Morland

    Cape Town

    Gorgeous gowns and more casual wear made from silks, linens, lace and other natural fibres seduce fashionistas in this chic showroom and atelier.

  • Village Artisanal de Ouaga

    Ouagadougou

    A government-run cooperative with a wide range of crafts, ideal for souvenir-shopping without the hard sell. If you're not a fan of bargaining to death…

  • Gafreh

    Burkina Faso

    This brilliant initiative, a women's cooperative, recycles the millions of black sachets handed out with purchases across Burkina into chic handbags,…

  • Caravanserai

    Cairo

    Think ‘Sahara chic’ is an oxymoron? Think again. Caravanserai (meaning a roadside inn where traders and travellers could get some R&R after a tough…

  • Jolla

    Tunis

    As the pioneers of the ‘carton’ furniture movement and the first designers of these products in Africa, Jolla stocks a range of surprisingly hardy and…

  • Lalla

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    Find Laetitia Trouillet's stylish handcrafted bags at her smart boutique in Gueliz. She works with Moroccan artisans to produce these elegant accessories…

  • Kaftan Queen

    Marrakesh

    Kaftan Queen is light and airy with a changing room fit for royalty, with Syrian mirrors and elegant chandeliers. Everything is reasonably priced, from…

  • Some Slow Concept Store

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    In a spacious 1936 villa, the Some Slow Concept Store blends the artisanal heritage of Marrakesh with modern-day tastes and trends. Six cosy rooms spread…

  • Atelier 44

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    Locals from Casablanca and Rabat make the trek to Marrakesh to shop at Atelier 44's collection of fine contemporary Moroccan designers who are keen to…

  • Librairie des Colonnes

    Tangier

    A famous landmark with wonderful architecture, this Tangier bookshop has a decent English section and carries classics from the city's literary past…

  • The Shop Accra

    Accra

    Opened by sisters Lorraine and Loretta Ocloo, The Shop Accra was a first for the city. Not just a hip shop offering jewellery, fashion and all kinds of…

  • Les Insolites

    Tangier

    This cute bilingual bookstore and photography gallery is a modern reminder of the city's remarkable literary history. Books are curated by the staff, who…

  • Mamelouk

    Cairo

    If you hate haggling at the souq, Mamelouk is a top place to pick up souvenirs at fair prices. Handmade pottery, fabrics and painted tiles punctuate a…

  • Kandinsky Art Gallery

    Tunis

    The medina has more than its fair share of shops selling junk masquerading as antiques and artworks unworthy of that appellation, but this shop/gallery…

  • Lentswe-la-Oodi Weavers

    Botswana

    The village of Oodi is best known for the acclaimed Lentswe-la-Oodi Weavers, a cooperative established in 1973 to provide an economic base for women from…

  • Doon Estate

    Harare

    A few kilometres east of town, Doon Estate is known for its galleries, cafes and souvenir shops. Sadly these days it's a shadow of its former self (many…

  • Artes Maconde

    Pemba

    Even if you don’t think you want to buy crafts, it’s worth stopping in at the excellent Artes Maconde at Avani Pemba Beach Hotel. It sells a wide range of…

  • Marché Artisanal de La Digue

    Antananarivo

    A popular place to pick up souvenirs is this market located about 12km out of town on a bend in the Ivato airport road. There are products from all over…

  • Jad

    Marrakesh

    Want to take home the zen aroma of Marrakesh's riads and spas? Jad has captured evocative local scents such as orange blossom, fig, black and green tea,…

  • Kalahari Quilts

    Gaborone

    These stunning quilts are made by Batswana women, overseen by the engaging Jenny Healy, and are a unique craft to take home. Each one bears an individual…

  • Tribal Textiles

    Zambia

    This enterprise employs a team of local artists to produce, among other things, bags, wall hangings, bed linens and sarongs, much of which are sold abroad…

  • Gantsi Craft

    Botswana

    This cooperative was established in 1983 as a craft outlet and training centre for the San. It’s an excellent place to shop for traditional San crafts,…

  • Bridge Books

    Johannesburg

    An independently owned, mostly African literature bookstore, Bridge Books has become a literary meeting place for Jo'burg's top local authors. The books…

  • Lisy Art Gallery

    Antananarivo

    This huge shop stocks anything and everything you could possibly want to bring back from Madagascar, from bottles of rhum arrangé (rum with macerated…

  • Cosdef Arts & Crafts Centre

    Swakopmund

    This worthy project supports local artisans and unemployed people by providing a shopfront for their work. The quality is high and the overall message,…

  • Sissi Morocco

    Gueliz & Ville Nouvelle

    The enviable apartment-style showroom creates the perfect ambience for shopping for homewares and textiles. Sissi is known for its bolsters featuring…

  • Botswanacraft

    Gaborone

    Botswana’s largest and best craft emporium sells traditional souvenirs, including pottery from Gabane and Thamaga, San jewellery and baskets from across…

  • Setsoto Design

    Lesotho

    Next to a primary school near the Blue Mountain Inn, you can see the painstaking tapestry-making process at Setsoto Design. The project employs more than…