Taunina Telegraph

Meet the ladies behind our collections

Taunina’s appliqued and embroidered collectable soft toys are special for a number of reasons, the most poignant being the close bond between the artist and her creation. Our teddy bears, bunny rabbits and puppy dogs are sometimes even named after the artists’ family members. What’s more, each handmade collectable  soft toy  carries its artist’s initials and, in its passport, it tells her story and explains her inspiration and her wish for the world.

We sat down with three of our artists and some of their very first creations, and chatted about what Taunina means for them.

Gisele & Masha

Congolese Gisele Kasumba, known affectionately by her friends as ‘Madam’, is not only a talented needlepoint artist, but also an aspiring fashion designer. Here, she shows off one of her first creations, named Masha, which means ‘love’. ‘Love’ is also the wish that she wants to send to the world with this teddy bear. “Everything I make must be perfect. I give my creations a lot of love!”

It took Gisele three days to create Masha. Muted pastel shades of lavender, baby pink, blue, and antique green give this teddy bear an appealing vintage feel. Fabrics are repeated in unique flower and butterfly patterns – appliquéd on the belly and arms – and delicate needlework adds the magical finishing touch.

“Taunina is going to change everything for us,” she says. “It provides the opportunity to reach our dreams.”

Juliet & Tafadzwa

In Zimbabwe, Juliet used to buy and sell wood. At Taunina, she embellishes our handmade collectable soft toys with exquisite embroidery and appliqué designs. This beautiful teddy bear, Tafadzwa (which means ‘we are happy’), took her five days to create and carries with it the wish of ‘happiness’. A stunning composition of azure blue tints adorn its body in motifs inspired by a secret garden of chirping birds, fluttering butterflies, and budding blooms.

Working with Taunina is an uplifting experience for Juliet in many ways. “Taunina’s creations are so beautiful, just by looking at them, your spirit is lifted”.

Patience & Precious

Zimbabwean Patience’s first love is knitting and she has been running a side business selling jerseys for a few years now. Here she can be seen with Precious, one of her very first Taunina creations, which carries with it a wish of ‘love’ for the world. On its belly you’ll see a magnificent sunflower-like bloom, surrounded by tiny birds and butterflies.

Patience would love to see more of the world. “A basic salary provides the platform to achieve my goals. It’s a dream of mine to travel, but I also love design and spending time with my children.”