At Symara, we make high-performance sportswear and custom apparel for schools, clubs, events, and businesses. All made right here in South Africa—built to last, built to move, and built to represent you.
Our gear doesn’t crack, fade, or fall apart. Colours are fused into the fabric, seams are reinforced, and every piece is made with care by a team that’s been doing this for decades.
We know what schools, clubs, events, and businesses need—because we’ve worked with them for generations. Whether you’re outfitting a whole team or pulling off a last-minute event order, we make it happen without compromising on quality.
Pick a design, go custom, or tell us what you need.
We’ll make it happen.
Our History
Symara’s roots run deep in Despatch, South Africa. In the 1950s, Sya Maria Rautenbach, a skilled and determined entrepreneur, started a small knitting and wool shop that laid the foundation for everything we’ve become. The name Symara was formed from her own: Sya Maria Rautenbach—a simple blend that reflected the hands-on, personal nature of the business from day one.
What started in the family home—with machines so large they had to extend through the walls—quickly grew. The Rautenbach family, hands-on from the beginning, poured their energy into building a business grounded in craftsmanship, problem-solving, and grit.
From the very beginning, we’ve provided clothing to schools. It’s never been a side offering—it’s been central to what we do. Whether it was jerseys, uniforms, or team kits, schools have trusted us with their apparel for generations.
By the 1970s, we moved to Despatch’s industrial area and expanded into a full-scale factory. Over the decades, we’ve adapted to every shift in the industry—from hand-driven machines and carbon-copy printing to modern sublimation and digital workflows. We were never afraid of change—we welcomed it.
Today, we’re still family-run, still local, and still committed to making durable, high-quality apparel for schools, teams, tournaments, and events across South Africa. The machines may have changed, but the drive, the values, and the name—Symara—are still the same.
