Every item in our collection has been selected because it is perfectly imperfect. That is the beauty of handmade. No two items are the same, and each one tells a unique story.
As a new South African immigrant to Vancouver Isalnd, Canada, with two small children and no support network, Irene was driven to launch Indaba with a belief that life is better when you surround yourself with meaningful things that provide comfort, pleasure, and beauty.
Irene was inspired by the Zulu word for “a gathering of people”: Indaba. This enchanting word embodies our mission to connect with you through our story, products, and the people who make them.
Thirty years later, Indaba has grown to become a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certified home and lifestyle brand. As a women-owned and operated business, Irene and her daughter Alison are proud to empower small businesses around the world.
Today, Irene and Alison travel extensively to source their designs. They especially love India’s rich textile heritage and artisanal traditions, and embrace the opportunity to work with the artisans who handmade each item.
We travel the globe in search of beautifully handmade treasures that each tell a unique story.
We have strong, collaborative relationships with our vendors.
They connect us directly with the artisans who make our goods, and we work with them on designs, marrying their traditional techniques with modern design and our aesthetic sensibility. We’re honoured to be able to visit their villages and workshops and witness the age-old techniques they’ve mastered over generations as they bring our products to life.
Most of Indaba’s products are sourced from India, and we work with artisans across every region of India, each with their own specialized craft. Firozabad is famous for exquisite glasswork, Moradabad is renowned for metal crafts, and Jaipur is a mecca for textiles and hand block printing.
We look forward to connecting with you through our story, products, and the people who make them.
When we know the origin of the materials and the makers' traditions, we start uncovering the stories behind each item. Our artisans' crafts and techniques have been perfected over generations and passed down through their families. This history and culture are layered into each item, from when they pick up the raw materials to when the piece is finished.
