Creating a socially responsible and wooly brand for Skaap Wines

Brand identity and label design for a South African wine from the Dutch family Schaap.

For those of you who don’t speak the lingo – Schaap/Skaap means sheep in Nederlands and Afrikaans. For every bottle sold the family donate a percentage of the revenue to a charitable foundation they established to help feed, clothe and educate the children of the local village.

To celebrate this worthy approach to wine we decided to use the labels to showcase the work of local artists and crafters. Each variety of wine features a different Skaap by under-privileged local artist, their art is then promoted and sold at the families vineyard and guest house.

Skaap Wines label designs – brand created by Ian Whalley
Skaap In Je Sasje label art by scrap metal artist Godfrey Dambuleni

Skaap In Je Sasje label art by scrap metal artist Godfrey Dambuleni

 
Skaap Okuphinki label art by Random Wire artist Jeff Mwazha

Skaap Okuphinki label art by Random Wire artist Jeff Mwazha

 
Skaap Sauvignon Blanc label art by Jack and his team of local wire & bead artists

Skaap Sauvignon Blanc label art by Jack and his team of local wire & bead artists

 
Skaap Rosalie label art by Godfrey Dambuleni, a scrap metal artist working in Salt River, Cape Town

Skaap Rosalie label art by Godfrey Dambuleni, a scrap metal artist working in Salt River, Cape Town

 
Skaap-Wines-Shiraz-Label-Story-by-Ian-Whalley.jpg

Skaap Shiraz label art by scrap metal artists Petros & William Findi.

 
Skaap Nathan label art by topiary artist Edward from Andrea's Topiary Creations. The Skaap was created from vines from the Skaap vineyards.

Skaap Nathan label art by topiary artist Edward from Andrea's Topiary Creations. The Skaap was created from vines from the Skaap vineyards.

 
Skaap Eline label art by recycled metal artist Godfrey Dambuleni from

Skaap Eline label art by recycled metal artist Godfrey Dambuleni from

Skaap Wines label designs

Business cards

To demonstrate Skaap's commitment to supporting and uplifting the local African community we took a different approach to printing their cards. Rather than using their stationery budget to get the cards printed traditionally we set up a small community project to print the cards by hand. Creating much needed work for unemployed people in the village.

Skaap Wines business card design – front
Skaap Wines business cards – back
Production of Skaap Wines business cards – by a small community project
Rubber stamp used to produce the Skaap Wines business cards
Skaap business cards production – hand printed with a rubber stamp

Making of the label art

We documented the making of each artwork to introduce the artists, share the fascinating story and process behind each label with wine connoisseurs around the world.

Skaap Rosalie art

I worked with recycled metal artist Godfrey Dambuleni – founder of Cape Town collective Mixed Ideas, to create the 'Skaap' for Rosalie, a Shiraz Reserve. Godfrey and his team source their recycled tin cans from a group of disabled garbage collectors to make their sculptures.

Skaap Shiraz art

For the Shiraz label I commissioned scrap metal artists Petros & William Findi. The two brothers work from a old shipping container in the infamous township of Gugulethu. They make a living by creating beautiful animal sculptures from old oil drums. The ‘Skaap’ they created is called 'Hwai Yakasimba' which means strong sheep in Shona.

Skaap Nathan art

For Skaap Nathan – a Red Blend – I commissioned Edward, a topiary artist who works with Andrea's Topiary Creations in Elgin. He created the sheep sculpture from vines stalks harvested on the Skaap vineyard.

Skaap Sauvignon Blanc art

For the Sauvignon label I commissioned Jack and his collective of local wire and bead artists who work on a street corner in Somerset West. The ‘Skaap’ they created for the label is called ‘Gwayana Hwai’ which means little sheep in Shona.

Skaap Okuphinki art

For the Okuphinki label I commissioned Random Wire artist Jeff Mwazha who works in the Dunoon Township of Cape Town. He uses recycled wire to create beautiful animal sculptures which he then powder coats in a variety of different colours.

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