Handcrafted Home Décor & Gifts with Purpose
Discover where art, décor, sustainability and gifting meet with Original T-Bag Designs, a social enterprise transforming recycled tea bags into stunning home décor and gifts. Since 1999, we’ve been crafting unique, handmade products that bring together sustainability, art, and purpose.
In our Hout Bay workshop, previously unemployed individuals from local townships create functional works of art from used tea bags. Each tea bag is a miniature canvas, carefully dried, emptied, ironed, and hand-painted by our talented artists, ensuring every piece is truly one-of-a-kind.
What makes our creations truly special is the story behind them. By upcycling everyday waste into functional art, we not only reduce urban waste but also provide sustainable employment and income opportunities for artisans from local townships.
When you bring home an Original T-Bag Designs piece, you’re not just adding a touch of creativity and craftsmanship to your space — you’re helping to create jobs, support communities, and turn waste into wonder.
These hand-painted tea bags become the heart of our diverse collection, which includes beautiful wooden trays, coasters, stationery, fabric items, and wall décor. Each purchase not only adds a touch of unique, sustainable style to your home, but also supports our dual mission: providing stable employment for our community and helping to reduce waste.
OUR SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
- We repurpose +/- 7000 teabags monthly destined for the landfill.
- We have created 22 jobs post Covid19 after full 2020 retrenchments and closure
- Our staff compliment is mostly single mothers who need a reliable income.
- We focus on maximising impact and launched a Skills Development Program from 2023
- We introduced free medical check and eye glasses support to staff.
Popular Categories
Stationery
Novelty
Cards
Tableware
Call to Action:
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Transform Your Home with Handmade Décor
Bring warmth, colour, and creativity into every room with our one-of-a-kind items crafted by hand, painted with care.
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Find Unique Gifts
Give more than a gift — give a handcrafted piece that supports local artists and turns waste into wonder.
Bestsellers
Latest Products
Our Locations
HOUT BAY WORKSHOP: Shop 1 Pam Arlene, Main Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town (Next to Altron Garage).
HOUT BAY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Shop 2 Pam Arlene, Main Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town V&A Watershed in Cape Town
Visit Our Workshop
Step inside the world of Original T-Bag Designs and experience the creativity first-hand. Our Workshop Tours give you a behind-the-scenes look at how everyday tea bags are transformed into art and décor. Meet our talented artisans, see the painting process up close, and discover the stories behind each piece. Perfect for visitors, schools, and groups who want an inspiring and educational outing.
T-Bag Painting Activity
Unleash your creativity with our fun and interactive T-Bag Painting Activity. Guided by our artists, you’ll learn how to recycle and repurpose used tea bags into miniature works of art each one unique. Whether it’s for team-building, schools, family days, or private events, this hands-on activity is the perfect mix of art, sustainability, and fun. Take home your creation as a keepsake or gift! We can also come to you for a group booking.
Hout Bay (Workshop & Shop)
We have a workshop in Hout Bay where visitors can take a tour and buy some products from a small store at the location.
Address:
Shop 1, Pam Arlene Place,
Main Road
Hout Bay
7806
Cape Town
V&A Watershed (Shop)
We have a stall inside the Watershed building at the V&A Waterfront where you can find a range of our products.
Address:
Shop 107 inside the V&A Watershed,
Dock Road
V&A Waterfront
8000
Cape Town