To heal from 30 years of abuse, she reawakened her creativity

At seven years old, Audrey Morkel fell in love with fabrics and materials. With a pencil in hand, she used her mother’s old sheets as a canvas. “When I was a young girl I used to draw on fabric and dream to become an artist,” she says. Today the 61-year-old is a seamstress and textile artist based in Bonteheuwel, Cape Town. But reaching her goal has been an uphill battle. “I got married at 20 years old and for 30 years I was emotionally abused,” she says. “In many ways, it broke me down and I stopped believing in myself.”

Morkel’s first job was in a factory where her position as a machinist made her feel as though her career was set in motion. Although she was secure in herself, it didn’t prepare her for the impact that verbal abuse would have on her life. Belittled and ashamed, Morkel’s self-esteem was destroyed and she lost sight of her passions. “I was thinking about my children that kept me in this abusive relationship,” she says. Morkel tried to hold on to the idea of a happy home and emulate a healthy environment for her four kids. But when she turned 50, she realised that they had all grown up and she no longer needed the support of her husband to raise them. “I decided to take the leap and walk away,” she says. For the first time since her marriage, Morkel felt a zest for life and a desire to reconnect with her textile art. 

With the help of Ikamva Labantu, an initiative supporting women, children, and senior citizens in townships through arts and crafts development, Morkel has awakened her creativity. Now she teaches women in her community to stitch and sew. “I want to see other women that are in the same situation become skilled crafters and reach financial independence,” she says. Operating from Audrey’s Factory, a container set up in her backyard, she cultivates their talents so that they’re free to make their own decisions and reach their aspirations.

When Morkel rediscovered herself, she designed a new canvas to tell her story. Despite her trauma, she found the strength to craft a healthier, more fulfilled life and help other women in the process. “Standing up for myself and my passions made all the difference,” Morkel says.