Da Gama Textiles
Da Gama Textiles is a South African vertically integrated textile manufacturer operating the country's largest mill from Zwelitsha, producing shweshwe, home/fashion, workwear, medical, and industrial technical fabrics for retail, wholesale, government, and healthcare customers across South Africa and Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersBisho, South Africa
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Da Gama Textiles does
Da Gama Textiles (Pty) Ltd is a South African vertically integrated textile manufacturer headquartered in Zwelitsha, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape. Established in 1946 as Good Hope Textile Corporation and operating since 1992 under the Da Gama name after acquiring sole rights to the Three Cats shweshwe brand, the company runs the largest textile mill in South Africa, processing up to 15 million machine metres per month and employing 580+ staff. Its product portfolio spans five divisions: Home & Fashion fabrics, Shweshwe & African Cultural Fabrics (anchored by the Three Cats Original Shweshwe brand), Workwear (including the D59 series and Da Gama Arc), Medical fabrics for hospitals and clinics, and an Industrial Technical Textile Division launched in March 2022 covering ballistic, flame/arc protection, filtration, and geotextiles.
The business operates a full vertical mill from spinning through weaving, dyeing, printing, and finishing, with capabilities across cotton, polyester/cotton blends, and specialty technical compositions. Protective fabric lines carry regulatory credentials including SABS certification to SANS1387-4 (since 1984 for D59), EN1149-5 antistatic compliance, and arc protection ratings, while shweshwe is produced using traditional 1840s methods with original copper rollers and a distinctive Three Cats backstamp guaranteeing authenticity. A 2025 partnership with TenCate Protective Fabrics added the Tecasafe Ecogreen XL9240 eco-certified inherent FR fabric to the portfolio.
Revenue is generated through three primary channels: company-owned Da Gama Fabrics retail stores (formerly Jacksons) selling to individual consumers, wholesale distribution to South African retailers and the informal sector, and direct bulk sales with a 500-metre minimum order quantity for enterprise, government, and technical textile customers. The company is privately held following its 2014 acquisition by Neil Cowie of the Cowie Trading group, and exports technical textiles to African markets alongside its primarily domestic footprint.
Da Gama Textiles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Da Gama Textiles
- Legal name
- Da Gama Textiles (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://dagama.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Da Gama Textiles is a South African vertically integrated textile manufacturer operating the country's largest mill from Zwelitsha, producing shweshwe, home/fashion, workwear, medical, and industrial technical fabrics for retail, wholesale, government, and healthcare customers across South Africa and Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Da Gama Textiles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Textile Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills (313210), Textile Mills (313), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133), Textile Furnishings Mills (3141)
- SIC
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Cotton (2211), Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Textile Mill Products (2200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Greige Woven Fabric Mills (IMAOABAA), Geotextiles & Civil Engineering Textiles (Road/Soil Stabilization/Erosion Control) (IMAOADAB)
Keywords
Where Da Gama Textiles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bisho
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Da Gama Textiles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Textile Fabric Sales: Sale of manufactured fabrics through retail stores and wholesale channels, including shweshwe, home/fashion fabrics, workwear, medical textiles, and technical textiles. Products sold by folded bolt and roll form.
- Bulk Custom Orders: Direct sales of 500m or more to bulk buyers including custom specifications, with contact form-based inquiry process for large-scale contracts and tenders.
- Wholesale Distribution: Supply of fabrics to South African retailers, wholesalers, and the informal sector through wholesale relationships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bulk Orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Da Gama Textiles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Da Gama Textiles is a vertically integrated textile manufacturer that designs, produces, dyes, prints and finishes cotton-based and polyester/cotton blend fabrics from its Zwelitsha facility. Its portfolio spans five divisions: Shweshwe & African Cultural Fabrics (anchored by the Three Cats Original Shweshwe brand), Home & Fashion fabrics, Workwear, Medical fabrics, and an Industrial Technical Textile Division serving ballistic, demining, flame/arc protection, filtration and geotextile markets.
Product overview
Da Gama Textiles operates as a vertically integrated textile manufacturer producing a diverse portfolio of fabrics across five main divisions: Home & Fashion, Shweshwe & African Cultural Fabrics (featuring the flagship Three Cats Original Shweshwe brand), Workwear, Medical, and Industrial Technical Textile Division. The company processes up to 15 million machine metres monthly from its Zwelitsha facility, offering both printed and dyed fabrics in cotton, polyester/cotton blends, and specialty technical compositions. Products range from traditional cultural fabrics and furnishing textiles to advanced protective fabrics including ballistic, flame-retardant, and arc-protection textiles, supplemented by specialized medical sheeting and curtaining.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Three Cats Original Shweshwe: Internationally recognised trademark shweshwe brand with distinctive backstamp
- Da Gama Industrial Technical Textile Division
- D59 Workwear
- Da Gama Arc
- Da Gama Macintosh
Products and services
- Home & Fashion Fabrics Unique, distinguishable fabrics and textiles for home sewing, fashion, furnishings and décor, including textured base fabrics and vibrant prints suitable for blinds, curtains, table runners, cushion covers, and placemats.
- Three Cats Original Shweshwe Traditionally-manufactured starched shweshwe printed on 100% cotton using authentic manufacturing processes from the early 1840s. Known for its distinctive smell, hard handle, and Three Cats backstamp as a mark of authenticity.
- Workwear Fabrics Fabrics designed for specific comfort and protective qualities including flame retardant, acid resistant, and lightweight general application options. Includes uniform fabrics for SANDF camouflage and technical textiles like D59 and J54 series.
- Medical Fabrics PPE and medical fabrics woven to deliver medical and protective attributes including antimicrobial finishes and water repellents. Includes sheeting, curtaining, and drapes for hospitals and healthcare facilities.
- Industrial Technical Textile Division Industrial and protection-focused technical textile solutions including ballistic protective fabrics (soft and hard armour), fragmentation protection fabrics, demining suit fabrics, flame and arc protection fabrics, filtration fabrics, geotextile base fabrics, and composite fabric sourcing.
- D59 Workwear Fabric Series Series of workwear fabrics including D59 (100% cotton drill), D59 Flame Acid (flame-retardant and acid-resistant), D59X Antistatic (certified EN1149-5), Da Gama Arc (arc protection rated 15 Cal), and Da Gama Macintosh (weatherproof).
- Tecasafe Ecogreen XL9240 Inherent multi-hazard protective fabric with arc flash, flame, thermal, and static protection. First eco-friendly inherent FR fabric with close to 50% sustainable content using TENCEL Lyocell fibers, weight 240 g/m2.
- Catering Classics Collection Limited stock collection of 65% polyester/35% cotton catering fabrics, weight 235 gsm, width 147-150 cm. Designed for catering uniforms and table applications.
- Retro Collection Design collection featuring retro-style fabric patterns for home and fashion applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 million machine metres processed per month - largest textile mill in South Africa
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Da Gama Textiles
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Da Gama Textiles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Da Gama Textiles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TenCate Protective FabricscoreDa Gama Fabrics partnered with TenCate Protective Fabrics, a global leader in protective workwear solutions, to introduce Tecasafe® Ecogreen® XL9240 to the African market. This collaboration combines Da Gama's local expertise and heritage with TenCate's global authority in textile innovation. The fabric offers inherent multi-hazard resistance (arc flash, flame, thermal, static), superior moisture management, and sustainability with close to 50% sustainable content using TENCEL™ Lyocell fibres. Benefits include faster access and shorter lead times, lower minimum order quantities, and local content commitment.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Da Gama Textiles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- DuPont: Major producer of protective fabric fibers including Nomex and Kevlar, serving workwear, defense, and industrial protection end-markets globally. Comparable as a major incumbent in protective technical textiles with a much broader portfolio and global reach than Da Gama.
- Ansell Limited: Australian-listed global leader in PPE and protective solutions including chemical-resistant and flame-retardant garments. Comparable on the protective-product customer need served (defense, healthcare, industrial workwear) although positioned downstream of Da Gama's fabric manufacturing tier.
- Toray Industries: Japanese diversified chemical and textile conglomerate with leading technical-textiles, performance-fabric, and protective-clothing segments. Comparable as a large-scale technical textile manufacturer across workwear, defense, and industrial applications.
- Indorama Ventures: Global vertically integrated polyester and textile producer with significant technical-textiles exposure. Comparable in vertical integration from raw materials through finished fabric (relevant to Da Gama's poly-cotton and specialty lines), though at much larger scale and global reach.
- Coats Group: Global industrial thread and textile group with performance materials including protective fabrics. Comparable on industrial textile manufacturing scale and customer overlap with Da Gama's workwear and technical-textile segments, at vastly larger enterprise scale.
- TenCate Protective Fabrics: Global leader in protective workwear fabrics (Nomex- and Kevlar-class equivalents) and Da Gama's 2025 strategic partner for the African market. Operates at materially larger global scale across multiple continents; provides direct technology transfer and product IP such as Tecasafe Ecogreen XL9240 to Da Gama.
Regional players
- Frame Group (South Africa): South African textile and manufacturing group operating in a similar domestic market context. Comparable regional textile manufacturer with overlap in South African consumer/workwear fabric markets and shared exposure to local infrastructure and economic conditions.
- Seardel Group: Historically significant South African vertically integrated textile manufacturer. Once one of the largest broadwoven fabric operations in South Africa — directly comparable in vertical integration, cotton broadwoven production, and South African market positioning, though the group has undergone significant restructuring in recent years.
Direct peers
- Klopman International: European-based manufacturer of workwear and protective fabrics with comparable product portfolio (flame retardant, antistatic, high-visibility) and similar mid-market mill positioning. Direct competitor in the workwear-fabric category where Da Gama operates its D59 and Da Gama Arc lines.
- Carrington Textiles: UK-based workwear and protective fabric mill producing flame-retardant, military, and healthcare textiles for global brands. Closely comparable in product mix and customer segments (defense, healthcare, workwear) at similar mid-size mill scale and vertical depth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Da Gama Textiles social profiles
Digital presenceDa Gama Textiles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Da Gama Textiles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Da Gama Textiles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Da Gama Textiles M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Da Gama Textiles
What does Da Gama Textiles do?
Da Gama Textiles is a vertically integrated textile manufacturer that designs, produces, dyes, prints and finishes cotton-based and polyester/cotton blend fabrics from its Zwelitsha facility. Its portfolio spans five divisions: Shweshwe & African Cultural Fabrics (anchored by the Three Cats Original Shweshwe brand), Home & Fashion fabrics, Workwear, Medical fabrics, and an Industrial Technical Textile Division serving ballistic, demining, flame/arc protection, filtration and geotextile markets.
Is Da Gama Textiles a public or private company?
Da Gama Textiles is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Da Gama Textiles founded?
Da Gama Textiles was founded in 1946. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Da Gama Textiles based?
Da Gama Textiles is headquartered in Bisho, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Da Gama Textiles make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Textile Fabric Sales are the primary driver. The others are bulk Custom Orders and wholesale Distribution.
Who are Da Gama Textiles's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are DuPont, Ansell Limited, Toray Industries, Indorama Ventures, Coats Group and TenCate Protective Fabrics. Regional players are Frame Group (South Africa) and Seardel Group. Direct peers are Klopman International and Carrington Textiles.
Does Da Gama Textiles have an API?
No public API is recorded for Da Gama Textiles.
What industry is Da Gama Textiles in?
Da Gama Textiles's product category is Textile Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOABAH, Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates), with a secondary code of IMAOABAA, Greige Woven Fabric Mills. Its NAICS code is 313210 and its SIC code is 2211.