Jacaranda Information

Jacaranda Living is a privately held company founded by Cathy and Martin Deale in 2004. It is headquartered in Wellesley, Massachusetts (a suburb of Boston). Cathy and Martin were born on the Kwa Zulu Natal coastline of South Africa and grew up there until 1997 when they moved with their two young children to live in Boston, Massachusetts. Cathy has always had a passionate interest in fine linens and enjoyed doing her own needlework. Jacaranda Living has enabled Cathy to convert her passion into a thriving North American business that also helps support producers whose personal circumstances are less fortunate than ours. It all started with Cathy's admiration for the high quality of workmanship produced by talented local Zulu women along the South African coastline. She became determined to try and help them expand their market horizons beyond South Africa. Jacaranda Living (named after a beautiful lilac flowering tree that is prolific in South Africa) was established to support these many wonderful people and their families, who suffer daily with financial hardship and live in an environment that is further compromised by crime and AIDS. On a trip back to South Africa, Cathy suggested to some embroiderers that she show their beautiful linens to some shops in North America.