atelier 55 – The Curator of Contemporary African Designatelier 55 – The Curator of Contemporary African Design
Fibre art has risen in popularity in the past few years. There is something about the soft tactile textures that have a way of soothing the soul and bringing character into a home or work space. One textile designer who is creating striking fibre art pieces is Nom. Characterised by bold geometric patterns Nom’s pieces are handcrafted from 100% cotton fibres woven onto beech wood frames.
Read MoreGone Rural Hand Painted Baskets at Maud Interiors [Eswatini / Swaziland] [Image credit: Gone Rural Hand Painted Baskets – Maud Interiors] Just spotted on Maud Interiors, via Pinterest these one-of-a-kind handwoven baskets from Gone Rural sporting colourful hand-painted splashes of paint in a stylistic nod to abstract expressionism. I have previously featured the work of Swazi-based social enterprise, Gone Rural on the site, and the organisation continues to shake up the industry with their innovative approach to contemporary African basketry. Purchases of the baskets will go towards helping support Gone Rural Bomake (meaning women) a not for profit organization which […]
Read MoreQuazi Design [Eswatini / Swaziland] [Image credit: Stitched Bowls – Quazi Design] Quazi Design combines cutting edge craft with design-driven aesthetics. The company, based in Swaziland is a social enterprise built on the principles of social, economic, and ecological sustainability, and was started in 2009, by Doron a designer from the UK; and Flotsam, a local Swazi magazine distributor. Quazi Design creates personal and interior décor from recycling locally sourced 100% waste magazines, layering or rolling up the pages to give the designs a 3D effect, and once a year showcases their innovative paper fashion.
Read MoreWest Elm/South African Design [Africa Inspired] West Elm is a Brooklyn based company whose Autumn 2012 collaboration collections see a range of products produced in collaboration with some of South Africa’s leading interior furniture and accessories designers and producers. A recent visit to South Africa saw the company work with fifteen South African design studios, and one from Swaziland to produce a range of products bursting with colour, shape, and texture that will brighten up the interior once the darker days set in. Some of the designers; Imiso, Gone Rural, John Vogel and Wola Nani, I have previously featured on African Daydreams; others are new discoveries […]
Read MoreSwazi Candles [Swaziland / Eswatini] [Image credits: Swazi Candles] In the mountainous countryside of the Kingdom of Swaziland a disused cowshed in a former dairy was turned into a candlemaking workshop that has become a local tourist attraction as visitors from all over the world stop by to see the production process and an array of unique candles. Whether round or triangular, animal or fruit; carved or hand-painted Swazi Candles are created and finished by hand meaning no two will be the same.
Read MoreMadwa [Madagascar / South Africa / Eswatini / Swaziland] [Image credits: Madwa] Inspired by craft and tradition, Madwa is an ethical craft project that works with small groups of master weavers in Madagascar and Swaziland to produce contemporary ranges of woven textiles, homeware, and accessories. Based in South Africa, Madwa harnesses the unique weaving skills of the different cultural groups and regions it works with, and is about the preservation of a unique craft heritage, assisting the weavers with product development and gaining access to international markets.
Read MoreNgwenya Glass Blowers [Swaziland] [Image Credit: Crooked Stem Wine Glass – Ngwenya Glass] Ngwenya means ‘crocodile’ and encircled by mountains nestles the tiny kingdom of Swaziland, where one of the mountains is said to resemble a basking crocodile; at the summit of this mountain is an ancient iron ore mine that dates back 43 000 years and at the foot, you will find the Ngwenya Village, home to the Ngwenya Glass Blowers. I mentioned Ngwenya Glass in the recent post I did on the ‘Piece’ jewellery exhibition and although they created some of the beads that were used, Ngwenya Glass’s scope is […]
Read MoreLanvin / Dessine L’Espoir [Eswatini / Swaziland] Lanvin, acknowledged as the longest-running couture fashion house, recently launched its first-ever girls wear collection, called ‘Lanvin Petite’ and to mark the occasion has commissioned a set of four very chic soft dolls. Designed by Elber Albaz, Lanvin’s celebrated Creative Director, the beautifully hand-embroidered and hand-stitched limited edition dolls were produced by a community of women in Swaziland and will be on sale from November. Lanvin, a fashion house with a rich heritage teamed up with charity Dessine L’Espoir (also known as Designing Hope) to create the pretty little dolls which are dressed in miniature versions of […]
Read MoreCoral Stephens [Eswatini / Swaziland] In Northern Swaziland lies an area called Piggs Peak home to Coral Stephens; a close-knit community hand weaving high-quality luxurious textiles for home and personal use. Founded in 1949 by Coral Stephens the company produces carpets, rugs, blankets, curtains, shawls and fabrics woven from hand-spun mohair and silk; cotton, raffia and wool. Plain or textured designs are skillfully showcased through complimentary hand-dyed contemporary colour palettes like; ecru, fawn, brown, duck egg blue, olive and ruby.
Read MoreGone Rural [Swaziland] Picking up from where I left off on my exploration into the different types of basketry found across the continent; I find myself quite taken by these glass bowls edged with a swathe of woven basketry. Created by Swaziland-based, Gone Rural I came across them on the US-based Amaridian Gallery, and they give a fresh updated look to the traditional woven basket. The way the basket weaving techniques have been combined with recycled glass has produced some beautiful, unique looking bowls. [image credit: Gone Rural – Amaridian Gallery] A socially responsible business set up by the late Jenny Thorne in […]
Read MoreDorah Sithole [South Africa] [Image source: Tafelberg] Whether it’s a steaming plate of sadza ne nyama, a beautifully fragranced lamb tagine, spicy jollof rice or a Sunday roast; our favourite foods done just the way we like it provide a source of comfort, reminding us of Mum’s good home cooking and with Mother’s Day in the UK a week away, on Sunday 3rd April what a good day as any to get together, cook up a feast and honour our Mothers as we make them feel extra, extra special. As the flurry of gift buying gets underway if your Mum […]
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