Honest Chocolate
Experimentation using raw cacao to produce a healthy treat led to the creation of Honest Chocolate; a small artisanal chocolate company based in Cape Town, South Africa. The company's founder, Anthony Gird began teaching himself the art of chocolate making and was soon joined by Michael de Klerk who had also been experimenting with raw chocolate whilst in London. Using 'traditional, old school chocolate making methods' small batches are handmade by a team of four that includes Anthony and Michael.   

Honest Chocolate chocolates are made using raw organic cacao that comes from Ecuador; raw refers to cacao beans that are not roasted and therefore said to be higher in antioxidants and good for you... any excuse to eat more chocolate! Honest Chocolate's products contains no preservatives or artificial flavours, and are free of dairy and processed sugar; the chocolate is instead, sweetened with organic Agave nectar The end result is a dark chocolate with natural flavours; I am noticing that the more I eat dark chocolate the less palatable I am finding milk chocolate. The chocolate range includes: bonbons with a soft melty praline centre encased in a hard chocolate shell; hand moulded chocolate bars that are flavoured either with Orange; Kalahari Desert Salt; Coffee; Maca, a root from Peru that is said to be a source of vitality and energy; or Nibs, crushed cacao beans sprinkled onto the slab; and a rather decadent looking chocolate spread. From beautiful boxes to distinctive illustrated wrappers, all the chocolates are either boxed or individually hand wrapped on the premises. 

Jewels of the Kalahari by One Fine Thread
Handmade by the San of the Kalahari, Jewels of the Kalahari is a collection of jewellery by made using the delicate natural shards of ostrich eggshells, which are combined with other materials like recycled glass.

Upholding craftsmanship and ancient skills, Jewels of the Kalahari was produced by One Fine Thread; a business that was founded by designer Anna Haber as a platform to highlight the rich culture and unique designs found in global arts and craft traditions.

Anna collaborated with craftswomen from the town of Ghanzi in Botswana and jeweller Sabine Roemer to create long draping strands and twisted ropes that belie the fragility of the eggshell shards. The designs are organic, emerging from a design and creation process saw the experimentation of new materials like ribbons combined with artistic tradition and heritage. Alongside the natural cream colour of the eggshells are brown and black colours that come from frying the eggshells. The campaign for the Jewels of the Kalahari collection is fronted by a local San girl.

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. 

The products produced are woven using sustainable materials such as raffia, palm and sisal; whilst contemporary colour schemes and patterns update traditional styles across baskets, cushions, stools, storage containers handbags, hats and throws.

Colonial House Design
Colonial House Design is an interior and furniture design company based in Cape Town, South Africa; and reflecting on its name and location I was expecting a more traditional Cape Dutch inspired design aesthetic, but instead found designs that draw on traditional African sculpture and the precision geometry of oriental forms. Colonial House Design was founded by Philip and Nicky Tyers; both of whom cite an eclectic range of design influences ranging from traditional African sculpture to those drawn from travels across Asia and South America.

Featuring clean lines and strong solid shapes, Colonial House Design’s design aesthetic is geared towards creating contemporary classics across furniture ranges that include sofas, chairs, coffee tables, cupboards, dining tables; and interior accessories such as mirrors. The ‘Iconic CHD’ collection features iconic and recognisable traditional African forms that are given a contemporary update; like the very authoritative yet regal looking Boma chair; which is bound to be a conversation starter in what ever interior it is placed in. The word Boma occurs in several African languages and relates to a traditional enclosure or fence that serves to protect people, communities or livestock; the essence of which is captured in the chair's design. 

The furniture designs are made with the company’s signature use of hardwoods, chrome and mirrored surfaces combined with luxurious fabrics. Colonial House Design offers a bespoke furniture design service, which has seen furniture created for a diverse range of clientele including luxury lodges. 

Buki Akib
Continuing to draw inspiration from Fela Kuti, Nigerian knitwear designer Buki Akib has launched a luxury collection of bags inspired by the legendary singer’s 27 wives. Exclusive to London store, Darkroom; Fela, The Wives is a follow up to Buki’s acclaimed menswear collection, previously featured on African Daydreams here. Designed to capture the individuality and essence of the Wives, the bags feature Buki’s signature use of pattern, texture and colour, and are made using traditional Yoruba hand woven textiles, combined with leatherwork from South Western Nigeria. Details such as the long sensuous fringing on the Sandra bag, and the playful tassled pompoms on the Funmilayo bag add a touch of the flamboyance and extravagance that Fela Kuti was known for.

The Tentmakers of Cairo
Today sees the start of Art in Action a four-day annual celebration of art, artists and designers that has been running in the Oxfordshire countryside since 1977. Promoting diversity in creative disciplines, regions and cultures participation is by invite only and sees about 400 artists, designer makers, teachers, performers and musicians demonstrating and selling their creations to art lovers. Grouped into sections according to discipline. In the Commonwealth Art section Chapungu Sculpture Park is showcasing the work of, and presenting demonstrations from some of Zimbabwe’s master stone sculptors. Another section is the International Tent, which showcases artists drawn from across the globe and this year representing Africa is Jump for Timbuktu, an organisation that will be demonstrating traditional Tuareg silversmithing techniques presented by Mohamed Alher and Mohamed Almaloud; and artists who belong to the group of legendary Tentmakers of Cairo; Hosam Hanafy Ahmed Mahmoud and Tarek Abdelhay Hafez Abouelenin whose grandfather started their family’s tent making tradition. Recently I have been hearing quite a bit about the Tentmakers of Cairo, whose intricately decorated wall hangings were traditionally used to decorate the interiors of majestic tent pavilions, known locally as suradeq.

Tent making is an ancient craft traditionally passed down from father to son working in Cairo’s Street of Tentmakers, which is today one of the city’s last remaining roof-covered ancient streets. Traditionally the tents are plain on the outside, but upon entering you are greeted with floor to ceiling coverings filled with the exquisite patterns, colours and textures of painstakingly hand appliquéd cloth. Tent making is said to be a dying art, there used to be thousands of men creating the appliqué but this has gradually dwindled to little more than a hundred. Visitors to the area can purchase the wall hangings and coverings. Art in Action is an inspiring event and having taken part a couple of years ago, I came back rejuvenated.

Loman Art
Creating poetry, songs and works of art, designer Loman Pawlitschek is the embodiment of the term 'creative spirit'. Creating mobiles and other decorative art features like mirrors, Loman is committed to upcycling, taking unwanted and discarded scrap metals and materials, turning them into functional objects of value. Originally from Australia, Loman and her family moved to South Africa for a few years where she worked as an interior decorator, before moving to Dakar, Senegal where she has lived for four years; and where her business Loman Art is based. Dakar has been a source of inspiration for Loman who draws inspiration from the city; the energy, the people and the weather amongst other things, saying that what she has found in Senegal has inspired her to do things differently from the norm and to try and make a difference.

Having no experience of working with metal Loman acknowledges that creating the first mobiles was a learning curve. Loman started by working with some local metal workers who soon came to work with for business full-time. Sourcing sheets of metal or rolls of wire from a recycling yard in Medina, a local neighbourhood, all the metal shapes for each product are cut by hand, and some pieces can be quite detailed taking a long time to complete. The paint used on the metal is the same as that used for painting cars and is an involved process which saw Loman and the team visit a local car workshop to see firsthand how it was done. Loman Art now comprises a team of seven who work across, metalwork, painting and decorating, and sewing; and by invitation some established local artists have come into the workshop to teach the team new techniques in painting and metalwork. Other materials collected include bottle tops and ring can pulls that are being used to decorate linens and accessories like cushion covers, aprons and handbags.

Loman Art is essentially about taking 'rubbish' and turning it into unique art pieces and Loman's home; both interior and exterior is a testament to the business' imaginative and highly creative designs with walls providing the backdrop to intricately assembled floral inspired mobiles whilst floral and geometric inspired chandeliers hang gracefully overhead; including one impressive centrepiece that when switched on has rotating parts like planets orbiting the sun! Outside, sculpted mirrored panels made from scrap metal or bottle tops woven together line the walls, but the 'piece de resistance' of which there are two... come in the form of a huge racing car climbing up the side of a wall and an equally huge glitter ball suspended over the swimming pool that gently rotates when switched on. Although made from metal some of Loman Art's designs tend to have a light paper-like quality about them, think origami, but closer inspection reveals them to be quite sturdy. 

Nyungwe Forest Lodge
I have just finished reading a delightful and touching book called 'Baking Cakes in Kigali' by Gaile Parkin and in it the main characters take a drive through the Nyungwe Forest, which they describe as being 'beautiful'. When reading this part I kept visualising the chic Nyungwe Forest Lodge whose website I had come across a little while back. About four to five hours drive from Rwanda's capital, Kigali; Nyungwe is a closed canopy rain forest. Designed to blend in with the surroundings the Nyungwe Forest Lodge is located on a tea plantation that sits on the edge of the Forest.

I love the way the Nyungwe Forest Lodge has been decorated. The main lodge is decorated with natural wood accents, and a palette of rich warm reds and golden olive and taupe tones give a contemporary update to the classic lodge the look, resulting in an elegant space that still manages to maintain a warm, homely feel about it. Sharp white and black colours against splashes of red are softened by wooden floors and doors frames and bring a contemporary feel to the rooms in which the scheme is applied. What I feel brings the décor together is the use of Rwandan basketry and other striking traditional patterns such as Imigongo, that can be seen applied to linens and incorporated into table and cabinet designs. Tree stumps turned into tables and what looks like one of High Thorn's twig lighting creations serve to bring nature indoors.

The Forest is home to thirteen species of primates including Chimpanzees which gives enthusiasts the opportunity to take treks to catch a glimpse of the animals. Guided walks are available taking interested guests to the Kamiranzovu Waterfalls and Swamp, as well as bird watching. If trekking is not your thing then take advantage of the peaceful surroundings and head to the relaxation retreat, which offers two treatment rooms and a Jacuzzi pool. Other facilities include, a heated swimming pool, fitness centre, outdoor eating areas and conference facilities that can accommodate up to 18 delegates. Also the main lodge is wheelchair friendly.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge is a haven of peace and tranquility.
 

Banke Kuku
Inspired by a fusion of African and western culture Banke Kuku, is a luxury interiors and textiles company that specialises in innovative printed and woven textiles. Nigerian born and London-based; creative director and founder Banke Kuku, draws on her culture and heritage to create bespoke patterns and textiles rich with colour and texture. Her textiles have been used in the collections of some of the world's leading designers including Duro Olowu, Jasmine di Milo, Burberry; and more recently Jewel by Lisa Spring/Summer 2012, which I previously featured here.

Following a show in Milan, Banke has now introduced a luxury interiors line to her eponymous label, and features traditional European furniture upholstered with the vibrant and intricately patterned fabrics that she creates.  Currently retailing in London's Selfridges is Banke Kuku's inspired range of cushions featuring bold digital prints in distinctive clashing colours and textures.

Joel Janse van Vuuren
Looking for a way to create garments that would be creative right from the beginning of the design process, South African designer Joel Janse van Vuuren purposely chose to move away from the methods of his formal fashion design teachings, using instead the 'chaos' of randomly spilt paint on paper to influence his fashion designs, and then giving order and structure to the blots by creating fashion illustrations from the shapes revealed. This is a method he calls 'Chaos by Design'.

Random and non-restrictive, Joel's method of 'Chaos by Design' was inspired by his initial research, which had led him to Rorschach's Inkblots. (Hermann Rorschach was a Swiss psychiatrist whose research and methods later led to personality analysis tools based on an unrelated technique he had developed using inkblots). Based in Johannesburg, Joel comes from a creative family; and prior to launching his own label worked with some of South Africa's leading designers. Using different mediums including gouache, acrylic paint and ink, Joel transformed the resulting paint-blot illustrations into the designs for his collections which feature highly colourful and free-flowing garments, as vivid colours bleed into each other across sensual floaty silhouettes. 

Now onto his third collection, I must say his latest Spring/Summer 2012 has not grabbed me as much as the previous ones, which I fell for as soon as I saw them. I adore bright jewel-toned colours and there are some gorgeous eye-catching gowns to be had. Joel has also used his 'Chaos by Design' technique to create more casual daywear styles like the cute billowing tunic-style dress below. Offering a bespoke design service, Joel's design services include wedding dresses.