From left to right: Zurina, Wendren & Fatima at the Design Indaba Exhibition 2010
‘The WREN design’ is range of bags inspired by the possibility of materials and their stories.
The brand started out of a want for a bag that had a story, was beautiful and was not mass-produced. The need was for a bag that was simple and practical. Wendren – the founder, could not find a bag that met both her want and need and so after a year or so of searching, ‘The WREN design‘ was born in 2008.
Since then the company has grown and the products have developed.
‘The WREN design‘ started out with just Wendren cutting fabric on the floor of her flat and sewing in her kitchen. Two great seamstresses started helping out and by the end of 2009 they had both quit their day jobs to work from home, freelancing fulltime for ‘The WREN design’. This team of three often swells to a team of seven or more for various projects. One example of such a project is the ‘Gift Map Bags’.
Behind the people, beside the customer and in front of them is the material with a story. Materials that inspire are those that have already had a life (for example, the coffee sacks that have transported coffee beans all around the world or the antique linen grain sacks woven between 1880 and 1910), or ones that could not fulfill their original purpose (for example, cement packaging rejects). These bags, as material, have the potential to continue on: for you to share in their story or them in yours.
Almost all the main materials have natural beginnings and where possible organic and/or natural fabrics are used to compliment them. Everything is considered when designing and creating – no fake materials or fabricated stories here.
Wren believes that a bag is a reflection of who you are and thus each one is unique and special. Their hope is that you can find a WREN bag that meets both your want and need and is that ‘perfect’ bag.
You can visit ‘the WREN design’ etsy shop here or find a stockist near you here.
 Kulula Magazine (Oct 2011) |
 Thrillist.com (Oct 2011) |
 Monkeyzen -online- (April 2011) |
 Visi -online- (May 2011) |
 Mango Magazine (Dec 2010) |
 The Die Line -online- (April 2011) |
 My Weku -online- (March 2010) |
 Ideas Magazine (Oct 2010) |
 House & Leisure (Nov 2009) |
 Wired -online- (March 2010) |
 Top Billing (July 2009) |
 Oprah Magazine (August 2009) |
 Mango Magazine (Feb 2009) |
 Oprah Magazine ( July 2009) |
 Die Burger (July 2008) |
 Get It Magazine (Sept 2008) |
