OUR STORY

The Beginning

In 2008, Wendren Setzer, the visionary behind Wren, grew dissatisfied with the routine of her job as a textile designer and felt a strong desire to return to basics, rethinking conventional product development. Seeking a new challenge, she began by crafting a handbag from fabric off-cuts, which sparked her curiosity about materials, textiles, and their potential roles in the creative process. This curiosity led Wendren on a journey of innovative product development, resulting in a series of creative breakthroughs as her business took shape.

Despite initial skepticism, her idea to work with paper as a durable material has flourished.

The inspiration for Wren’s unique material came unexpectedly. While driving behind a truck loaded with cement bags, Wendren wondered if paper could be made as strong as ballet shoes. Her experiments led to the development of ProtectPaper™, a durable and adaptable material now used in all Wren products.

By bonding recycled paper to cotton, Wendren created a versatile fabric that reimagines origami into something both tangible and functional. Folded and stitched, it reveals the untapped potential of paper.

Wren began in a local design market called The Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town, where it quickly gained recognition. The company’s breakthrough came with an invitation to the Design Indaba as an emerging creative, where the famous PPC Cement Laptop Bag was launched. This pivotal moment solidified Wren’s identity with paper and marked the start of its expansion into an international company known for sustainable manufacturing, fair business ethics, and quality workmanship.

WREN through the years

2008

JANUARY: Wendren resigned from her job as a textile designer to start Wren.
OCTOBER: Joined the Neighbourgoods design market at the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Cape Town. This allowed the company to meet and build connections with local shop owners and clients.

2010

February: Participated as an Emerging Creative at the Design Indaba at the CTICC in Cape Town with the PPC Cement Laptop Bag. Wren exhibited at the Design Indaba three more times (2012, 2013 and 2014) until it closed.
The Wren Design’s first two contractors were enlisted. Fatima & Zurina joined the team to work part-time over weekends to help meet the growing demand.

2012

FEBRUARY: The first development from the PPC Cement Laptop Bag was introduced – the ipad sleeve. Launched at the Design Indaba in three hand screen printed designs.
MARCH: Invited to participate in the Munich Creative Business exhibition. This was the company’s first appearance at an international exhibition.
The Wren Design Pty Ltd was officially registered.

2014

Selected as one of 20 promising businesses to participate in the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s Centre for the Promotion of Imports (CBI) export coaching 5 year programme.
Wren design moved into it’s first studio.

2015

The Wren Design made the decision to focus on paper products and the product range grey to introduce Mini and Laptop Paper Sleeves.
MAY: Wendren became the director full time.
OCTOBER: Wren exhibited at Sanlam Handmade Contemporary for the third year (2013 – 2016).

2016

FEBRUARY: Joined consumer goods exhibition at the Ambiente trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. This event was the first solely international trade exhibition of the company and was an incredible success resulting in the company growing more than 200% in one year. Wren returned in 2017 and 2018 to Ambiente.
NOVEMBER: Opened its first retail store called The Collective at the Watershed V&A Waterfront in Cape Town together with three other South African design brands.

2017

JANUARY: Exhibited with Dubaruba at Paper World in Munich, Germany.
FEBRUARY: At Ambiente Bags were introduced to expand the Wren Paper sleeve Collection as well as its first consolidated and collaborated range with Diana Ejaita: Optical Africa.
JULY: Wren’s first Eastward Trade Show: Giftex in Tokyo, Japan.
AUGUST: Wendren won Business Women’s Achiever Award

2018

Wren’s first international Trade Show in America: NYNOW Accent on Design Returned in August 2019 and Feb 2020 on the Accent on Design Pavilion.

2019

FEB & AUGUST: Exhibited at New York Now, USA
NOVEMBER: Moved into a bigger studio at 59 Main Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town.

2020

OCTOBER: Launched the Promenade range with Skinny Laminx
NOVEMBER: Winner of Women-owned business Awards for the Western Cape Entrepreneurial Awards.
NOVEMBER: TWYG Sustainable Fashion Awards Finalists

2021

OCTOBER: Collaborated with Design Afrika to create homeware for Totem exhibtion.
NOVEMBER: One of the first South African companies to be certified B-corp

2022

NOVEMBER: Launched the collection “A Beautiful World” with local artist Sharon Bonzaaier. This collection consisted of 4 different ink artworks digitally printed onto Wren products.