Mapula Embroideries was established in 1991 by Soroptimists International, the Sisters of Mercy and UNISA. This embroidery workshop was a response to the desolation of Winterveld, in which language barriers excluded residents from the formal economy. Mapula, which translates to 'Mother of Rain' in Tswana, evokes the renewal and hope the project sought to cultivate. Mapula Embroideries has since grown into a lifeline for over 150 women, offering them a living through skilled storytelling. Through the manufacturer, mothers teach daughters, weaving a living archive of mettle across generations.

Operating from homes and community hubs across Winterveld and Hammanskraal, Mapula Embroideries artisans use local material to stitch vivid narratives. Wielding complete autonomy over design and colour, they thread personal memory with national history. The artisans craft everything from humble everyday items to ambitious, large-scale cloths that can take up to three months to complete. Mapula Embroideries’ distinctive cultural stamp has carried their work to many international exhibitions.