Anin Namibia
The Story of Anin Embroidery
Our Day at Anin Embroidery starts by walking into the buzzing workshop to a song and a smile that gives us such a feeling of joy. Sometimes it feels like you want to sit down behind a sewing machine and join the buzz, but not all hands were made for sewing. Even more intricate is the hand embroidery that these Namibian Women do so effortlessly at Anin Embroidery. We would then quickly gather to sing a Typical Nama song and welcome our Creator into our day with a prayer.
What does Anin mean?
Anin is not just a name; it is a Nama word that translates to many birds. The Nama People is a member of the Khoikhoi people of Namibia and live in the Southern parts of the vast Namibia.Read More
How it Began
Like most good things in Namibia, the Anin project grew from humble beginnings. As the very creative, hip, city girl wife of a successful Swakara Farmer, Heidi von Hase was thrown into the deep end of a new reality with the man she loves. Activities such as milking the cow, processing meat and growing vegetables for the table were a step away from the supermarket and other city comforts. The Family was expanding with 4 girls in their toddler and early school years. Heidi’s creativity however was not about to fade.
Her heart for people was set ablaze when experiencing the struggle and poverty of people who were living in tough conditions in the neighbouring village. Heidi was able to recognize and appreciate the impoverished women’s talent for embroidery, a skill learned from the missionary women in the early 1900’s and passed down for generations. In seeking shelter from the blazing Namibian sun, the first embroiderers meetings took place in the shade of a camel thorn tree. This was where Heidi von Hase established Anin Embroidery in 1987.
