StitchWise
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What StitchWise does
StitchWise (legal entity Stitchwise Pty Ltd) is a privately held South African industrial textile manufacturer founded in 1996 in Carletonville, Gauteng, in the heart of the country's deepest gold mines. The company designs and produces industrially sewn products across five core lines: personal protective equipment (PPE) such as knee guards, arm guards, kidney supports, reflective gear, harnesses, and rainwear; underground mining support products including geotextile backfill bags with custom percolation rates and Rock Grippa safety nets built from 3-ton webbing; PVC bags, pouches, and canvas multi-use bags for mining and industrial use; dewatering bulk bags used in ore refining plants; and nursery grow bags and tree bags manufactured from UV-stabilized recycled geotextile. Underlying capabilities include heat-welded PVC production at 300-400 GSM, needle-punched polyester geotextile manufacturing, and custom fabrication against client-specified materials (PVC, canvas, or customer-supplied fabric), with rain suits offered in sizes S through 5XL.
The business operates a direct, enterprise sales motion with no intermediaries: customers reach StitchWise via phone (+27 (0) 18 788 2622) and email ([email protected]), request quotes for custom configurations, and receive B-BBEE certificates and product price lists as PDF downloads from the company website. Pricing is not publicly listed for most SKUs and is set per quote or per project; nursery grow bags and tree bags are the exception with published downloadable price lists. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time product sales rather than subscriptions or licensing. StitchWise self-describes as the largest manufacturer and supplier of geotextile backfill bags, knee guards, and various PPE in South Africa, with products deployed across South African underground mines and parts of Africa, and growth bags supplied to nurseries nationwide. The company holds Level 1 B-BBEE compliance with 51% black ownership, 34% black female ownership, and a 51% employee trust stake; its workforce is largely managed by women and includes approximately one-sixth paraplegic employees, reflecting its origin as a 1996 sewing-skills project to employ disabled mine workers.
StitchWise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StitchWise
- Legal name
- Stitchwise Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://stitchwise.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
StitchWise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Textile Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Nonwoven Fabric Mills (31323), Broadwoven Fabric Mills (31321)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Miscellaneous Fabricated Textile Products (2390)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates) (IMAOABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geotextiles & Civil Engineering Textiles (Road/Soil Stabilization/Erosion Control) (IMAOADAB), Nonwoven & Technical Fabrics (CRAAAMAD)
Keywords
Where StitchWise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
StitchWise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- PPE Products Sales: Sale of personal protective equipment including knee guards, arm guards, kidney supports, belts, harnesses, reflective gear, rainwear, and various bags and pouches.
- Underground Mining Support Products: Sale of geotextile backfill bags, dewatering bulk bags, and rock safety nets for underground mining operations.
- Nursery and Grow Bags: Custom manufactured grow bags, tree bags, and nursery bags sold to agriculture and nursery industries.
- PVC Bags and Pouches: Industrial PVC bags, canvas bags, and clear PVC pouches manufactured for mining and industrial use.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Quote-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
StitchWise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
StitchWise manufactures and supplies industrially sewn textile products for mining, industrial, and agricultural clients. Its core product lines include personal protective equipment (PPE), underground mining support products (geotextile backfill bags and Rock Grippa safety nets), PVC bags and pouches, dewatering bulk bags, nursery bags (grow bags and tree bags), and rainwear. Products are custom-manufactured in South Africa with proprietary geotextile materials engineered for specific client requirements.
Product overview
StitchWise is the largest manufacturer and supplier of geotextile backfill bags, knee guards, and various personal protective equipment in South Africa. The company operates as a single unified product portfolio focused on industrially sewn products, comprising PPE (personal protective equipment), underground mining support products (backfill bags and safety nets), PVC bags and pouches, bulk/dewatering bags, nursery bags (grow bags and tree bags), and rainwear. All products are manufactured at their South African facility with a focus on quality workmanship, with many products available in custom configurations to meet specific client requirements. The product line ranges from large rugged underground support products to delicate bags and pouches requiring precision manufacturing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) A wide array of personal protective equipment including knee guards, arm guards, belts, kidney supports, reflective gear, and various pouches, manufactured with industrial-grade thread and reflective patches for underground visibility. Designed for mining and industrial workers.
- PVC Bags and Pouches Durable PVC bags and pouches featuring industrial-grade thread, available in PVC, canvas fabric, or custom fabrics. Includes clear PVC bags, canvas bags, and general PVC products for mining and industrial applications.
- Dewatering Bulk Bags Specially designed woven geotextile bulk bags that retain solids while allowing liquids to percolate out. Used in mining and dewatering industry for solid-liquid separation, with the ability to contain significantly higher mass compared to conventional bulk bags.
- Nursery Bags (Grow Bags and Tree Bags) Geotextile grow bags and tree bags manufactured from recycled fibers with UV stabilizer. Available in various sizes with differing percolation rates for nursery and agricultural applications.
- Backfill Bags Geotextile backfill bags manufactured from uniquely woven geotextile with varying percolation rates, designed for underground mine support systems. StitchWise has manufactured backfill bags for more than two decades, including for the hanging wall of the deepest mine in the world.
- Rock Grippa Safety Nets Safety nets manufactured to the highest standards using 3-ton webbing for retaining and restraining large falling rocks and objects in underground mines.
- Rainwear (Rain Suits) Locally manufactured rain suits made from high-strength PVC (300–400 GSM), heat-welded for 100% waterproof protection. Available in yellow (300 GSM), white (400 GSM), and stone colors in sizes S to 5XL.
- Laundry Bags Industrial laundry bags for commercial and industrial laundry operations.
- Shaft Sinker Suit Specialized protective suits for shaft sinking operations in mining.
- Heavy-Duty Tool Bag Robust tool bags for industrial and mining applications.
- Canvas Multi-Use Bag Versatile canvas bags for multiple industrial applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully supported the hanging wall (roof) of the deepest mine in the world for many years.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use StitchWise
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
StitchWise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
StitchWise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
StitchWise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ansell: Global leader in PPE solutions including industrial and mining gloves, protective suits, and body protection. Operates in a broader PPE portfolio than StitchWise but overlaps significantly in mining PPE procurement.
- Drägerwerk: German manufacturer of safety technology, gas detection, and respiratory protection equipment for mining and industrial applications. Comparable in mining safety customer base and underground PPE product category.
- 3M Personal Safety Division: Global diversified manufacturer with a major PPE and worker safety division serving mining, industrial, and construction markets. Overlaps with StitchWise in PPE (respiratory, hearing, protective wear) but as part of a much larger portfolio.
Direct peers
- Solmax (TenCate Geosynthetics): Leading global manufacturer of geosynthetics and geotextiles for mining, civil engineering, and environmental applications. Directly comparable in woven/nonwoven geotextile production for underground support and dewatering applications.
- Fibertex Nonwovens: Global nonwoven fabric manufacturer (Denmark-headquartered with South African operations) producing needle-punched and spunbond nonwovens for industrial, agricultural, and geotechnical applications. Directly comparable manufacturing technology and end-use markets.
- MSA Safety: Global manufacturer of safety equipment and PPE specifically engineered for mining, oil & gas, and industrial applications. Directly competes in the mining PPE category with overlapping customers (mining majors) and similar product segments (harnesses, protective gear).
- Kaytech: Direct South African competitor manufacturing woven and nonwoven geotextiles for civil engineering, mining, and agricultural applications. Operates in the same product category (geotextile fabrics, bulk bags) with overlapping customer base in SA mining and infrastructure.
Regional players
- Corona Contours: South African manufacturer of industrial textile products including PVC bags, tarpaulins, and custom sewn industrial products. Compares to StitchWise in PVC bag manufacturing and custom industrial sewing for the South African market.
- Maccaferri Africa: Global manufacturer of geotechnical and civil engineering solutions with South African/African operations. Comparable in geotextile and ground support products for mining and infrastructure, primarily serving African markets.
Emerging players
- Strata Worldwide: Specialized provider of ground control, geotechnical, and safety products for underground mining. Overlaps with StitchWise in underground mine support products (backfill systems, rockfall protection) with a more technology-enabled offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
StitchWise social profiles
Digital presenceStitchWise compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
StitchWise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StitchWise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
StitchWise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StitchWise 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 StitchWise
What does StitchWise do?
StitchWise manufactures and supplies industrially sewn textile products for mining, industrial, and agricultural clients. Its core product lines include personal protective equipment (PPE), underground mining support products (geotextile backfill bags and Rock Grippa safety nets), PVC bags and pouches, dewatering bulk bags, nursery bags (grow bags and tree bags), and rainwear. Products are custom-manufactured in South Africa with proprietary geotextile materials engineered for specific client requirements.
Is StitchWise a public or private company?
StitchWise is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was StitchWise founded?
StitchWise was founded in 1996. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is StitchWise based?
StitchWise is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does StitchWise make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. PPE Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are underground Mining Support Products, nursery and Grow Bags and PVC Bags and Pouches.
Who are StitchWise's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ansell, Drägerwerk and 3M Personal Safety Division. Direct peers are Solmax (TenCate Geosynthetics), Fibertex Nonwovens, MSA Safety and Kaytech. Regional players are Corona Contours and Maccaferri Africa. Strata Worldwide is listed as an emerging player.
Does StitchWise have an API?
No public API is recorded for StitchWise.
What industry is StitchWise in?
StitchWise's product category is Industrial Textile Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOABAH, Technical Fabric Mills (Performance/Protective/Medical Substrates), with a secondary code of IMAOADAB, Geotextiles & Civil Engineering Textiles (Road/Soil Stabilization/Erosion Control). Its NAICS code is 31323 and its SIC code is 2300.