Heritage Month in September 2026 provides an opportunity to explore how Gauteng entrepreneurs preserve and reinterpret culture through locally made products. Six businesses featured by Gauteng Tourism, SINAM, Lentique Creative Studio, Negritude Jewellery, Mandla Twala Ceramics, Ledikana and Odwa by Milli Owino, work across clothing, accessories, pottery and design. Their products reflect different approaches to South African and African identity, while giving residents and visitors ways to engage with local creative businesses ahead of Heritage Day on 24 September.
ALSO READ: Heritage Day 2026: Where to Go and What to Explore Across Gauteng
SINAM: Remembering Sharpeville Through Fashion
SINAM connects clothing with historical remembrance through its Sharpeville Is Not a Massacre identity and a range of commemorative apparel.
Its online shop includes limited edition T shirts marking the 1965 commemoration, alongside other clothing. The listed products include black and white commemorative T shirts priced at R400, additional T shirts priced at R500 and jerseys priced at R800.
The brand’s focus places historical memory within everyday clothing. Its approach offers a starting point for conversations about Sharpeville and the importance of how South Africans remember the past.
Residents interested in its products can browse the collection through the SINAM online shop.
Lentique Creative Studio: Leather Goods Made by Local Artisans
Lentique Creative Studio produces handcrafted leather goods and accessories, combining contemporary designs with traditional craftsmanship.
Its range includes travel bags, handbags, sling bags, wallets, cardholders, leather belts and handmade beaded jewellery. The studio also offers customised designs for customers seeking individual pieces.
The business places emphasis on locally made products and supporting artisans. Its leather accessories illustrate how traditional production skills can be used to create functional items for contemporary customers.
Lentique can be contacted on 084 026 1393 or at [email protected].
Negritude Jewellery: African Identity Through Accessories
Negritude Jewellery draws on African forms, textures, symbolism and storytelling to create contemporary accessories.
Its collection includes statement earrings, necklaces and bracelets. The designs combine cultural influences with modern fashion, allowing wearers to incorporate African inspired pieces into everyday outfits and special occasion clothing.
The brand’s philosophy centres on self love and individuality. Its jewellery is intended to give customers a way to express their personal style while recognising the cultural influences behind each design.
Negritude is also seeking to expand through collaborations, retail opportunities, pop up experiences and digital platforms. These channels can introduce its work to customers beyond its existing audience.
Mandla Twala Ceramics: From Vosloorus Clay to Contemporary Design
Mandla Twala Ceramics traces its beginnings to founder Kenneth Mandlenkosi Twala’s childhood in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, where he first worked with clay near a river.
Twala later studied arts, craft and design at Parktown College of Vocation from 1998 to 2000, followed by fine arts studies incorporating ceramics at the former Witwatersrand Technikon from 2001 to 2003.
His work developed into a commercial ceramics practice producing vases, pots, lamps and decorative pieces. He also taught pottery skills to children and adults and supplied products to shops around Gauteng.
One of his collections, the Abanguni Series, draws inspiration from Nguni traditions in Southern Africa. The range uses surface patterns, shapes, colours and forms to connect cultural influences with contemporary pottery.
The business has also taken part in exhibitions and community activities in Ekurhuleni, using ceramics both as a commercial product and as a way to share creative skills.
Ledikana: Contemporary African Fashion From Johannesburg
Ledikana Creations is a Johannesburg fashion and accessories business established in 2014. Its company profile identifies it as a fully women owned business with 10 employees at the time the profile was prepared.
The brand manufactures contemporary African garments, hats and accessories. Its wider product range includes handbags, men’s bags, children’s clothing, ponchos, shoes, beaded jewellery, corporate gifts and soft toys.
Ledikana works with local artisans to develop accessories and also sources products from South African designers for its retail offering. These partnerships bring different makers together within a shared retail space.
The business has showcased its work at South African exhibitions and international events, including Africa Fashion Week in London.
Its company profile lists retail locations at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park and Upper Galleria Mall at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. Shoppers should confirm current trading details before visiting.
More information is available at www.ledikana.com.
Odwa by Milli Owino: African Textiles Meet Vintage Silhouettes
Founded by Millicent Owino in 2017, Odwa by Milli Owino combines vintage inspired silhouettes with textiles sourced from different African cultures.
The brand approaches fashion as a form of storytelling. Its designs bring together fabrics associated with African communities and contemporary garment construction, connecting older styles with present day clothing.
Odwa’s collections place particular emphasis on the cultural significance of fabric. Rather than treating textiles solely as decorative materials, the brand uses them to express connections between clothing, identity and heritage.
The business lists its address as 152 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg. Customers can explore its collections at www.shopodwa.co.za or contact the business on 062 394 1992.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
These six businesses demonstrate how cultural heritage can be expressed through products that people wear, use and display in their homes.
For residents, Heritage Month offers an opportunity to learn about the people and creative processes behind local products. A ceramic vase, handmade leather bag or garment made with African textiles can carry a story about its maker, materials or cultural influences.
Supporting local businesses can also create opportunities for artisans, designers and other workers involved in production and retail. However, customers should check product availability, prices, collection arrangements and trading hours directly with each business before making purchases or visiting.
Heritage Day on 24 September is one occasion to explore these products, but the businesses operate beyond the annual celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Heritage Day in South Africa?
Heritage Day is observed annually on 24 September. In 2026, it falls on a Thursday.
Which Gauteng businesses are featured for Heritage Month?
The six featured businesses are SINAM, Lentique Creative Studio, Negritude Jewellery, Mandla Twala Ceramics, Ledikana and Odwa by Milli Owino.
Where can I find locally made African fashion in Gauteng?
Ledikana’s business profile lists shops at OR Tambo International Airport and Melrose Arch. Odwa by Milli Owino lists an address in Randburg. Confirm current shopping arrangements before travelling.
Are there local businesses selling handcrafted accessories?
Yes. Lentique produces leather goods and beaded accessories, while Negritude Jewellery offers earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewellery.
Where can I find heritage inspired home décor?
Mandla Twala Ceramics produces pottery and decorative pieces, including its Abanguni Series, which draws inspiration from Nguni traditions.
Heritage Beyond the Calendar
Heritage Month draws attention to South Africa’s cultural diversity, but the work of preserving and reinterpreting traditions continues throughout the year.
Across Gauteng, businesses such as these use design, craftsmanship and storytelling to connect cultural influences with products for contemporary customers. Their work gives residents and visitors another way to encounter the province’s creative economy beyond museums, monuments and annual celebrations.
