Zambia Archives - atelier 55 - The Curator of Contemporary African Design

The Soulful Style of Africonté, An Artisan-Led Homeware Brand

Africonté is a contemporary Zambian homeware and lifestyle brand that upholds the skills of local artisanship and culture. Following an artisan-led aesthetic, Africonté works with women weavers and other skilled artisans in marginalised communities seeking to support and financially empower them.

Textiles Zambia

Tribal Textiles Zambia x PATTERNITY A Modern Approach To The Traditional Batik Fabric Technique

PATTERNITY is a London design and research studio that was founded on a love of pattern, how patterns are all around us in everyday life and sharing that with the world. The studio brings ideas, people and perspectives together. The studio has collaborated with Zambian textile company Tribal Textiles, who invited founders to visit their studio in Zambian to create a handmade homewares collection based on the company’s batik fabric technique.

Design Zambia

Design: Kubu Furniture Bringing Timber to Life

Kubu [Zambia] [Image credit: Kubu – Design Africa] Kubu is a proudly Zambian business whose aim is to ‘bring timber to life’. The beauty and craftsmanship of woodwork skills in Zambia are celebrated through the designs of Kubu, a furniture manufacturing company based in Livingstone, Zambia that seeks to reinterpret the artistry of traditional wood furniture through the use of contemporary design aesthetics and modern techniques.

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Food & Drink: Dorah Sithole Cooking from Cape to Cairo

Dorah 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 […]

Accessories Zambia

Accessories: Jackal and Hide’s Beautifully Crafted Bags

Jackal and Hide [Zambia] On the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia a small workshop produces a range of beautifully crafted designer bags and accessories made from quality Zambian cowhides. Set up by Gillie Lightfoot, known for creating Tribal Textiles, Jackal and Hide bags are crafted from start to finish by a small group of specially trained tailors, enabling attention to detail and quality in the finish. [Image credits: Jackal and Hide] Continually evolving with the adding of new designs, Jackal and Hide bags are all customised to incorporate the customers requirements and therefore unique, as no two should be […]

Travel Zambia

Travel: Kalamu Lagoon Camp

Kalamu Lagoon Camp [Zambia] [Image credit: CN Traveler on Concierge.com] Now me and camping don’t usually see eye to eye… I like my creature comforts way too much. But I had to revisit that sentiment when I came across an editorial feature entitled ‘Sleeping under the Heavens’ courtesy of Wedding Nouveau (If you haven’t already come across Wedding Nouveau especially if you are planning a wedding I thoroughly recommend it. WN is an addictive source of cultural inspiration). The editorial features some of the most amazing places in the world to sleep under the stars and where I came across the Kalamu Lagoon […]