Where to shop for African Decor and Crafts

Australia's diverse and multicultural landscape means that you'll find a wealth of global influences reflected in its home decor options. For those with an eye for African-inspired pieces, the country offers a variety of stores, online platforms, and markets that provide authentic African crafts and decor. Whether you're looking for vibrant textiles, handmade sculptures, or rustic furniture, Australia has a wide array of options for sourcing genuine African decor items.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through some of the best places to shop for African decor in Australia, both online and in-store, so you can easily infuse your home with vibrant cultural accents and craftsmanship.

1. African Stores (Online and Physical)

If you’re looking to shop for authentic African decor online, African Stores is an excellent choice. The online marketplace offers a wide selection of handcrafted items, ranging from textiles and furniture to jewelry and art pieces. Their curated collection includes items from various African regions, giving you a chance to shop for decor that speaks to different cultures and traditions.

• Products Available: African prints, wall art, handcrafted sculptures, home accessories, textiles like Ankara and Kente, and more.
• Location: Online shop with worldwide shipping. If you’re in Australia, it’s an ideal option for browsing African decor at your convenience.

Website: African Stores

2. African Markets and Festivals

Attending local African markets and cultural festivals is a wonderful way to explore and shop for authentic African decor. These events often feature artisans and vendors offering handcrafted home goods, textiles, and crafts from various African countries.

Popular African Markets in Australia:

• African Market Day (Sydney): Held annually in Sydney, this market is dedicated to celebrating African culture, featuring local artisans selling African crafts, clothing, and home decor.
• African Festival of Sydney: Celebrating African music, dance, and art, this festival is a great place to find African-inspired decor. Local artisans often showcase their handmade goods here, including beautiful wall art, sculptures, and woven baskets.
• Melbourne’s African Markets: Melbourne also hosts several African-themed markets where visitors can shop for unique home decor items, ranging from fabrics and woven baskets to pottery and textiles.

Why Visit?

• Experience the atmosphere of an African marketplace.
• Meet artisans directly and learn about the cultural significance of the items.
• Find unique and one-of-a-kind decor pieces.

3. Ethical and Fair Trade Stores

Several stores across Australia specialize in fair-trade African crafts, providing an ethical shopping experience that ensures artisans are paid fairly for their work. These stores often feature handmade products created by African artisans using sustainable methods and materials.

Popular Fair-Trade Shops:

• Oxfam Shop (Online & Physical Locations): Oxfam’s collection includes a wide range of fair-trade African home goods, from decorative items to furniture, textiles, and crafts. They support small-scale African artisans and their communities by providing a marketplace for their goods.
• The Social Studio (Melbourne): This Melbourne-based social enterprise offers handmade African-inspired home decor pieces and textiles, all produced by artisans working in a safe and sustainable environment.
• Ten Thousand Villages (Online & Physical Locations): With a global network of artisans, Ten Thousand Villages offers fair-trade African home decor, including woven baskets, textiles, pottery, and wooden sculptures.

4. Specialty African Decor Stores

Some stores are specifically dedicated to showcasing African-inspired decor, furniture, and crafts, providing customers with a curated selection of authentic and high-quality items.

Notable Specialty Stores:

• Nubian Interiors (Sydney): Nubian Interiors is a Sydney-based store that focuses on importing and selling African furniture, home decor, and textiles. The store’s collection features traditional African art, sculptures, hand-carved wooden pieces, and textiles from across the continent.
• African Art and Craft (Online): This online store offers a wide variety of authentic African decor items, including masks, sculptures, carvings, textiles, and furniture. They source their products directly from artisans in Africa, ensuring authenticity and quality.
• Soul Origin (Sydney): Known for their handcrafted African goods, Soul Origin offers customers an opportunity to explore African design through home accessories, wooden carvings, and tribal masks.

5. Local Artisan Stores and Pop-Up Shops

Australia is home to many local artists and artisans who draw inspiration from African culture. These artisans often sell their products at pop-up shops, local markets, or their own small boutiques. Shopping at these venues supports local craftsmanship while offering unique African decor pieces.

How to Find Local Artisan Shops:

• Pop-Up Markets: Keep an eye out for pop-up artisan markets and art fairs where African-inspired decor items are showcased. These events often feature local artists selling handmade sculptures, jewelry, textiles, and home accents.
• Independent Boutiques: Many independent home decor boutiques in major Australian cities offer a selection of African-inspired pieces, often curated by the owners themselves. These boutiques may carry items like handmade baskets, woven textiles, and wooden sculptures, along with other unique decor.

6. Online Platforms and Marketplaces

If you’re not located near a physical store that sells African decor, online platforms offer a wide range of options. Platforms such as Etsy, eBay, and Amazon feature a variety of African-inspired home decor items, including unique, handcrafted goods from African artisans.

Best Online Platforms for African Decor:

• Etsy: Etsy offers a large selection of African home decor items, with many sellers offering handcrafted and vintage pieces. You can find everything from tribal masks and sculptures to textiles and wall art.
• eBay: With global shipping options, eBay is another online platform where you can purchase African decor items, including traditional crafts, contemporary African art, and handmade textiles.
• Amazon: Amazon’s extensive selection includes African decor items ranging from handmade baskets and pottery to wall hangings and textile prints.

Why Shop Online?

• Greater variety and availability.
• Convenience of home delivery.
• Access to international sellers who specialize in African decor.

7. African Decor at Major Retail Chains

Some major retail stores in Australia, including Freedom Furniture and Adairs, may carry African-inspired decor pieces as part of their global or ethnic collections. While these items may not be entirely authentic, they often offer a stylish take on African design.

What You Can Find:

• African-inspired textiles, such as throw blankets and pillows.
• Decorative baskets and woven goods.
• Wall art featuring African motifs and patterns.

Australia offers a wealth of options for those seeking authentic African decor, from online marketplaces and specialty stores to local artisan markets and pop-up shops. By exploring these venues, you’ll find everything from handcrafted wooden sculptures and tribal masks to vibrant textiles and natural fiber rugs, all infused with the rich cultural heritage of Africa.

Whether you’re looking to infuse your home with African-inspired beauty or seeking unique, ethically sourced items, Australia’s diverse selection of African decor stores ensures you can find exactly what you need to bring a touch of Africa into your living space. Happy shopping!

About the Authors

Ire Ayatunji