Gone Rural

Gone Rural UK creates employment for over 700 women in Swaziland and in 2006 became fully accredited by the Fair Trade organisation IFAT. Our unique home accessories combine sustainable materials and traditional African weaving skills with high-end modern design.

The designer tableware sold here is thoroughly modern and vividly colourful yet individually made from Lutindzi grass in the African countryside. 

The table mats are sold as sets or you can create your own look by mixing the colours yourself. There are also versatile baskets in the same zesty colours for bread, fruit and cutlery. Each piece is hand woven. The Gone Rural tableware is easily cleaned by wiping.

The products you are viewing on this website come from the hands of women from the remotest parts of Swaziland, in south eastern Africa. Ravaged by one of the world’s highest rates of aids, the landlocked country is home to thousands of isolated women whose husbands and family members have been claimed by the disease, leaving them with no income to feed themselves. Gone Rural provides a livelihood for these women so they can earn enough money to feed themselves and send their children to school. The women, who often work in groups, collect the abundant local mountain grass and use age-old weaving techniques to create these stunning and durable products.