The Wren Design

The Wren Design Bags & Accessories made from ProtectPaper™ in Cape Town, South Africa It was on this day that our Founder, Wendren, quit her day job and started WREN.

The idea to make paper stitchable and durable was sparked by driving behind a truck piled high with cement bags, on the way to buy shoes. For over 10 years we have been collecting the ends of paper rolls from factories and transforming them into lifestyle accessories such as travel bags, laptop bags, device covers, wallets, and more. HOW: Wren’s “cement” kraft paper is sourced from local packaging

printing factories, retaining a link to their origins with cement bags. Even today, there remains a strong link to cement because Wren uses the same type of paper, but from a different source. The packaging print factories discard the ends of paper reels due to creases, imperfections, or their small size, and Wren acquires the paper from them. Wren’s process combines the concepts of recycling, reclaiming, upcycling, and repurposing. Once delivered the reel-ends of paper are slit into large sheets that get delivered to a local screen printing or digital printing company. Using specially prepared ink with a unique recipe to flood the screen and print the paper. After printing, Wren’s expert team of makers meticulously hand-cut, fuse with cotton, stitch, and coat the paper with environmentally-friendly Nano Liquid Glass for water resistance. Wren's fusion of fabric+paper+nano is a registered trademark ProtectPaper™ today. More information about Wren’s paper, coating, printing, and packaging can be found on our website. Wrens's journey began in 2008 and continues to unfold as they discover and make unusual connections.

Your laptop’s new favourite home: Wren’s ProtectPaper® Laptop Sleeve in Olive 🫒⁠⁠Crafted with our signature water resist...
04/09/2026

Your laptop’s new favourite home: Wren’s ProtectPaper® Laptop Sleeve in Olive 🫒⁠

Crafted with our signature water resistant paper-fused-to-fabric and ultra-soft lining, it delivers serious drop and spill protection with a sleek and lightweight profile. ⁠

Available in 8 different sizes and lots of different colours! ⁠

Shop link in bio.⁠

Did you know that we screenprint all of our artworks ourselves?     Wendren comes from a background of textile design. S...
28/08/2026

Did you know that we screenprint all of our artworks ourselves?



Wendren comes from a background of textile design. Some of the concepts to printing fabric and paper are the same, but many are different. Placing the screen still requires absolute concentration to align down to the millimeter.

A process of people and machine working together in rythm.

To screenprint paper we use a suction table. We found this second hand table in the back of an old printing factory, neglected and collecting dust. It has some oddities as it is a table locally engineered but we think of this as it having personality.

Mimi is our studio’s printer. She has no prior experience in screenprinting and has learnt it all in the past year.

Screenprinting is a process of rhythm on repeat. Again and again, each sheet of paper is carefully placed, printed and checked.

At our studio we make do. No space is designated a singular purpose but rather serves several. Our central courtyard has lines crisscrossing on sunny days with sheets of printed artworks drying in the sun. A wash line of art.

Screenprinting is beautiful. In its process and finished product. The image is sharp and colour vivid. Digital printing cannot compare and when one’s soul is poured, like the ink onto the screen, and through the arms with every pull of the squeegee, the end result is nothing short of stunning.

We can’t wait to share this new collection of screen printed artworks with you.

✉️ An invitation to share our space.⁠⁠We’re looking for someone who would enjoy being part of a shared creative environm...
24/08/2026

✉️ An invitation to share our space.⁠

We’re looking for someone who would enjoy being part of a shared creative environment from light manufacturing and making, to consulting or desk-based creative work.⁠

You would have your own 20sqm private front room, with high ceilings, wooden floors and a beautiful mountain view. Some furniture would stay making moving in even easier to move in.⁠

The shared space includes a kitchen, bathroom (with shower), and central courtyard.⁠

The studio is a short walk from Muizenberg beach, shops and the village, and there’s also an opportunity to rent additional showroom or shop space if needed.⁠

• Available from 1 September.⁠
• Short-term rental.⁠
• R7000. ⁠
• Includes security. ⁠
• Excludes electricity & water. ⁠
• Option to rent showroom/shop space. ⁠
• Internet available (but not included).⁠

Please [email protected] for more info.⁠

09/08/2026

One word could never be enough to describe everything a woman is. But asking what that one word might be is a beautiful place to start.

For Women's Day, I challenged the women at the Wren studio to complete one simple sentence:

"I am a woman, and I am..."

Not long ago, women were too often labelled as less than, second, inferior, incapable. For generations, those messages were repeated so often that many women came to believe them too.

Today, we get to choose different words.

Words that remind us of our strength, creativity, resilience, compassion and courage. And of everything else that makes women extraordinary.

Words to stand taller with.
Words to be proud of.
Words to carry with us.

Happy Women's Day to every woman writing her own story.

Pick your colour and never mix up your Passport again. 🔴🟠🟡⚪️🟢🔵🟣⁠⁠Our Passport Holders come in multiple colours and print...
31/07/2026

Pick your colour and never mix up your Passport again. 🔴🟠🟡⚪️🟢🔵🟣⁠

Our Passport Holders come in multiple colours and print options - one for the whole family, close and extended!⁠

Imported from image metadata:Stories: Passport Holders (Instagram Story) - 7------------
31/07/2026

Imported from image metadata:
Stories: Passport Holders (Instagram Story) - 7
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A genuinely useful gift, handcrafted from paper fused with cotton for strength and water-resistance, our wallets are sli...
30/07/2026

A genuinely useful gift, handcrafted from paper fused with cotton for strength and water-resistance, our wallets are slim, durable, and designed to carry the essentials with understated style. A range of unique designs and colours to choose from.⁠

Shop online or in-store, local and international shipping available.

Have you met our Passport Holders yet? Made from ProtectPaper® that is water resistant and durable, you are sure to keep...
23/07/2026

Have you met our Passport Holders yet? Made from ProtectPaper® that is water resistant and durable, you are sure to keep your passport protected well beyond its expiry date. ⁠

21/07/2026

For Mandela Day 2026, our team spent the morning crafting handmade dolls for the incredible girls at St George’s Home For Girls.

We dyed fabric, stitched and designed clothes. Each doll got an adoption page and each girl got pens to draw their own dolls face.

For the older girls we packed panties and chocolates.

Watching the youngest in the group, wonder off to the playground on her own with her doll, reminded us of the simple power of being seen, loved and cared for.

We left with full hearts and a deep gratitude for the everyday blessings we so often take for granted.

Thank you .georgeshomeforgirls for welcoming us and for caring for these girls ❤️
Thank you for printing the doll adoption pages 📝

Built to carry it all. Our water-resistant ProtectPaper® Messenger Bags are roomy and sturdy enough for your laptop, not...
06/07/2026

Built to carry it all. Our water-resistant ProtectPaper® Messenger Bags are roomy and sturdy enough for your laptop, notebook organiser, and project materials, without compromising on style.⁠

Shop online and in-store. Local and international shipping available.

Address

59 Main Road, Muizenberg
Cape Town

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:30
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:30
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:30
Thursday 08:00 - 16:30
Friday 08:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+27715130915

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