Anton Heunis
Exuding an air of charm and sophistication from a bygone era coupled with layers of sparkly opulence the bejewelled creations from jewellery designer Anton Heunis are jewellery box treasures; the type of pieces you expect see when playing dress up, and so earn the name ‘Modern Vintage’ words Anton uses to describe his work. No surprises then that Anton was inspired by the glamorous jewellery found on his Grandmother's dressing table during his childhood growing up in South Africa, which led to him eventually launching his eponymous accessories label in 2004 after settling in Madrid. Visually striking, I am reminded of Art Deco and the roaring twenties, cited as being the most glamorous and popular style of the twentieth century by London's V&A museum. Anton studied Fine Art in South Africa before moving to Germany to learn the art of gold-smithing.

Anton is involved in every aspect of production from designing the jewellery collections himself to the manufacture. All pieces are handmade in the historical heart of Madrid using Swarovski crystals, brightly coloured stones, glass and metals including brass and inspiration for Anton comes from everyday life. A post on his blog speaks of how when Anton first started creating jewellery he would daydream about the type of wearer, impossibly glamorous women with equally fabulous lives beign followed about by paparazzi eager to get the latest shot, and although this has been true for his work it is the everyday woman, the one who takes a piece of Anton Heunis jewellery and makes it her own that gives more meaning to his work.

...Anton Heunis is jewellery to make you feel fabulous whether making your mark on the red carpet or doing the weekly shop!

La Petite Congolaise
During my 'actively running a business days' I was always coming across various groups and associations at tradeshows, online, in the press and through word of mouth, enticing start ups to join as a way of networking with other like minded individuals and helping to build the business; there were many to choose from and some I joined and others I didn't. One of the ones I always came across and met some interesting people through even though I never formally joined was Craft Central, previously known as the Clerkenwell Green Association, a thriving and inspiring hub for up and coming designers and craft makers across various disciplines. I always try to look in on their website from time to time to catch any new names and work, and this is where I came across the sweetly titled 'La Petite Congolaise' which translates as 'The Little Congolese Girl'. The Little Congolese Girl in question is British-born designer maker, Laurence Kanza who is of Congolese heritage. Laurence sought to create a range of vibrant and richly patterned interior furnishings that reflect her home country of Congo, as well as the personality of the person who buys them.

In a bid to show the modern face of Congolese design and creativity, Laurence drew inspiration from aspects of Congolese life; from the fabric used - Wax cloth in all it's vibrancy reigns supreme across a limited edition range of handmade cushions; perfect for brightening up the home to counteract the winter blues that have taken hold for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere - Congo's natural beauty, traditional craftsmanship to the buzz of day-to-day street life. La Petite Congolaise's debut collection entitled 'The Awakening' comprises three colour groupings: Earth Tones, Vibrant Brights and The Alternatives.

Earth Tones takes it cues from the red dusty roads taking travellers on a journey from urban to rural life and vice versa, with the mighty Congo River and tropical rain forests represented through blues and lush green tones. Vibrant Brights reflecting the dynamic city of Kinshasa, the celebrations and enjoyment of life, paying homage to the bustling Congolese markets pulsing with life, later giving way to the energetic nightlife. The Alternatives is a meeting of opposites where the earth tones combine with flashes of brightness, allowing you the best of both.

Provided in a complimentary drawstring bag, all cushions are backed with denim and come complete with a feather and down cushion pad. I am drawn to the prints with the strong geometric patterns as the shapes allow for greater versatility and offer a fresher, more contemporary take on wax cloth inspired cushions. I can just imagine the chevron pattern gracing the Lambert cushion against a hardback ebony wood chair with white padded seating; in my mind it all looks very striking. 

...embracing the power of bold pattern and colour to transform the home

Bib&Sola
Coming from the Latin words meaning ‘Water’ and ‘Comfort’, Bib&Sola is an exquisite and highly unqiue range of hand blown glassware paying homage to women water bearers across the globe; and for me calls to mind the familiar graceful depictions of African women with clay pots or tightly woven baskets perfectly balanced on the head having walked miles to fetch water; a vital resource for day to day life, and is a task done with dignity. Bib&Sola was established by Kira Heuer, a Southern Californian native who grew up by the ocean and in her bio refers to the impact water in its various forms has had on her life; from the enjoyment of surfing as youngster to the deeper need to raise awareness for clean water for all, having been spurred into action when she read an article in National Geographic highlighting the scarcity of water in parts of the world, with some shocking statistics accompanying it (Water Issue, April 2010).

Hand blown in Venice, Italy a region famed for its Murano glass techniques, tall slender shapes in the form of Murano glass carafes and tumblers are shot through with bright colours in yellows, reds, blues and greens. It’s like they have had paint dropped into them and the swirled around the sides; resulting in a striking effect and one that is hard to achieve with glass blowing techniques, as Kira found out when searching for an artisan to help produce the glassware. With a specific idea in mind of how she wanted the products to look like Kira almost gave up in her quest after repeatedly being told that what she wanted to achieve was not possible given the way colours in the glass will spread at random during the process. However Kira continued to work with different glass blowers eventually finding the right artisan to help her achieve the look and feel she was after. Kira’s persistence paid of, as they look stunning; the splash of the colours add a playful touch but do not detract from the message behind the products, to create awareness about water supply and it's growing scarcity in some areas of the world. For every Bib&Sola product sold, a percentage of the profit from the proceeds goes towards the ONE Foundation, a charity working to provide clean, safe drinking water in parts of the world where there is none. The funds raised are used to help with the development of pump water systems in rural Malawi.

…distinctive, highly unusual glassware created to make a difference

pureDKNY
Whiling away time in House of Fraser, a leading UK department store that got their byline 'temptation on every level' bang on, I found myself wandering the perfume aisles and came across, pureDKNY, a perfume with a purpose that was launched by the  quintessential New York fashion label last year. Designed to make a difference the first pureDKNY fragrance entitled ‘A Drop of Vanilla’ comprises as the name suggests a drop of vanilla in water as the main ingredients. The vanilla used comes from Uganda, sourced with the aim of working towards sustainable long-term vanilla production in partnership with local vanilla producers, most of whom are women.

pureDKNY A Drop of Vanilla is a fresh, clean scent packaged in recycled and recyclable materials; and is ideal for summer. pureDKNY was created to instill a sense of calm and pureness, a a concept carried through to the simplicity in the design of the bottles which remind me of water bottle and give of the feeling of a refreshing and cleansing product. I, however didn't smell much of the vanilla notes; I don't like sweet smells staying on my skin as they start to get a bit sickly making me feel slightly nauseous as the day wears on, however I feel the fragrance could have done with just a touch more of the vanilla notes. pureDKNY A Drop of Vanilla is ideal for those seeking simplicity in their fragrances, if you like CKOne you will love this. Joining A Drop of Vanilla is the latest release, pureDKNY Verbena, in what the company hopes will become a growing collection of fragrances designed to give back to the communities they work with. A zesty citrus and floral fragrance, pureDKNY Verbena uses the Verbena Basil a sits main ingredient, a plant sourced from farmers in Togo, and is one that has a citrus lemon like quality that give the fragrance its signature scent. The Verbena Basil is a plant that has been used in creating fragrances and infusions for centuries.

Proceeds from pureDKNY go towards funding initiatives by the humanitarian organisation; CARE. Based in Uganda's Mukono district in the south west of the country one of CARE’s projects includes working with Ugandan vanilla bean producers, and sees DKNY’s involvement in a project supporting approximately 900 producers who are part of the Ugandan Vanilla Association. Also in partnership with CARE DKNY ‘s involvement in Togo will go towards supporting Verbena Basil farmers in the country. 

...As we approach the season of giving for every pureDKNY gift set bought, DKNY will donate £1 to CARE

African Prayer Hamper/The Travelers Collection
Ditch bog standard plastic laundry baskets in favour of some elegantly coiled hampers hand-woven by the Wolof women of Senegal and available on The Travelers Collection, a US-based offering a diverse collection of globally inspired personal and home ware accessories and gifts. Simply stylish, the hampers are made from recycled prayer mats that have been woven using njodax grass and plastic strips and come in subtle soothing colour palettes that bring a touch of contemporary African chic into the interior. Available in different sizes, the hampers have ample room, not only concealing mountains of laundry but lend themselves to tidying away items like toys, doubling up as decorative objects in process, meaning if storage space is an issue simply dot them round the home; just make sure inquisitive guests don't go round lifting the lids!

The Travelers Collection is a journey into artisanal handicrafts inspired by the experiences of global travels; in particular the people encountered along the way. Representing different cultures and regions across the globe the Travelers Collection celebrates creativity for positive benefit and is dedicated to giving back to the communities visited by supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs. Familiar and unusual handcrafted products have been sourced from Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East; and include contemporary and cultural jewellery, baskets, luggage and a selection of music ranging from Brenda Fasi to the Latin Tango. With Christmas just round the corner the Travelers Collection is a good place to find something meaningful for that hard to buy person.

...beautiful and functional uniquely African inspired home storage solutions

Vlisco
Having struggled with it in the beginning I soon grew to love the life drawing classes that were a fundamental part of my design course; and began increasingly looking forward to a whole day of losing myself in interpreting the contours and shadows of the model's body onto paper. Starting out shading with pencils, pastels quickly became my medium of choice, rendering the figure in simple black lines and then going 'crazy' with the bright colours to pick out the pattern and texture in clothing and accessories, this gave my work the feeling of a layered effect. I haven't done an observation drawing in ages, and keep promising myself I'll take up some life drawing classes soon, but its finding the time, which when it comes down to it is partly an excuse as it has been way too long since I picked up a pencil or pastel to simply draw and I know I would have to learn the skill all over again, because although I had the basic skills, figure drawing didn't come as naturally to me as it does to some requiring some serious concentration...one of these days though... I couldn't, however help being transported back to my art college days when I saw the latest campaign from Dutch textile company, Vlisco that features illustrations of an elegant, graceful African woman rendered in what looks like pencil or charcoal and then layered with the vibrant Dutch wax cloth prints that Vlisco is renowned for.

Entitled 'Delicate Shades' the campaign is a collaboration with fashion illustrator, Sabine Pieper and advertises Vlisco's latest fabric collection; one which places a even greater focus on the design aspect and drawing techniques that come into play when devising the company’s fabric collections. Vlisco’s designers looked at ways to create two designs in one and the resulting multiple layers of the patterns give the designs a three dimensional quality and a different appearance when viewed from different angles, and when offset against the figure in the illustrations give depth suggesting free flowing movement. The fabrics also display a transparency effect that is enhanced by Vlisco's signature vibrant complementary colours. I love the depth and life the fabrics bring to the illustrations; just think how gorgeous they would look framed and hung in an ultra feminine bedroom, dressing room or in a studio for inspiration. Taking your cue and using this as inspiration you could create your own using colours that appeal to you and your mood… And not just for creating stylish clothing collections, the fabrics would also make for some stunning interior furnishings, think elegantly upholstered patio furniture in the bright geometric honeycomb patterns or giving a new lease of life to the tired seating of your favourite dining room or lounge chairs.

Producing fabrics since 1846 and catering to markets predominately in West and Central Africa, when it comes to pushing the envelop on defining African elegance Vlisco has positioned itself as one of the forerunners, giving a firm African favourite; Dutch Wax cloth, sultry and seductive makeovers with each collection released. Creating fabrics and imagery that depict the elegant, glamorous side of Africa Vlisco’s collections are a visual feast showcasing the possibilities of wax cloth, working to entice a new generation of the modern African woman and beyond. Tapping into the must-have feeling it makes you want to go off and create your own wardrobe of showstopping ensembles and in anticipating this desire a new themed collection, inspired by international trends is launched every quarter catering to a sophisticated and loyal clientele (of mainly women) who constantly seek ‘something a little bit different’ with each new design without compromising on quality.

In addition to its headquarters in The Netherlands, there are five Vlisco's boutiques in Africa: Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

...imaginative, colourful and captivating; a reflection of the growing recognition of just how glamorous, sophisticated and luxurious African style and creativity can be

Anita Quansah London
Bold, beautiful and highly expressive accessories that celebrate the strength of a woman without compromising on femininity; just some of the defining characteristics to be found in the jewellery pieces from UK-based accessory designer Anita Quansah. Having trained as a textile designer, Anita set up her eponymous eco-luxury fashion textiles and accessories label in 2006 and saw her intricately embellished textiles leading to the creation of ornate jewel laden neckpieces and the influence is unmistakable when you see the textural quality of the pieces. I can’t get enough of the flower-like statement choker below; the intensity of the violet hue against the gold beads… so, so gorgeous and just one of the many unique, imaginative pieces from Anita Quansah London. 

Self-taught in jewellery design, Anita hand makes all her pieces and has a specific focus on promoting sustainability within fashion, a philosophy that led to her to specialising in unique one-off pieces reconstructed from reclaimed materials. By taking something old to make something new, unwanted garments, textiles and fashion accessories scoured from flea markets, charity and vintage shops are carefully deconstructed, extracting the components that can be turned into wearable works of art; woven together in her signature intricate embroidery style. A typical Anita Quansah piece can include items like rare gems, safety pins, mixed metals, ribbons, buttons and feathers. Anita draws inspiration from nature and culture: from travel, art, music and fashion resulting in richly textured products tinged with a sense of nostalgia; for example a recent collection made use of rare vintage African textiles and beads; and was inspired by the colourful adornment of the Ndebele tribe and another collection sees a piece using reworked vintage Indian embroidery. The Anita Quansah London Autumn/Winter 2011 drew inspiration from Valentim Quaresma, a Portuguese artist and designer known for his use of industrial materials in his work and; the film Avatar, in particular examining the interaction between civilisation and culture. Factors translated into a collection of pieces fusing items like nuts, bolts, washers, and safety pins that work to exude a powerful sense of confidence and glamour in those who chose to adorn themselves with Anita’s creations. 

Of Ghanaian heritage, Anita credits her late grandmother; a seamstress and designer, for instilling the passion for all things textiles within her and recalls her grandmother making clothes for royalty using interesting and embroidered textiles. Her grandmother also taught women skills and believed in the need to make use of the things you’ve been blessed with; one of which is your hands. Sage advice indeed that has led to...

...sumptuous statements in jewellery design

AphroChic
There are some truly amazing and inspiring blogs out there and not enough time to get through them all on a regular basis. Before I started African Daydreams I was constantly amazed at the power of blogs in allowing people to deliver their own personal take on creativity and diversity with relative ease, regularly logging onto a handful of favourites to get my daily fix of style, colour and inspiration. One of the blogs I came across and am still constantly inspired by is the Philadelphia-based AphroChic, in fact it was the imagery from the online shop that caught my eye first...there was something so deliciously laidback about the styling, coupled with a soulful retro vibe that completely appealed to my style sense and I was hooked. There are some gorgeous new collections in the online shop amongst which I spotted some African inspired pillows. Taking inspiration from the Kuba cloth and giving the well-known pattern a truly modern makeover, is a collection entitled ‘The Beat’, one that is just as the name suggests; visually strong and pulsating with solid colour that will make a statement wherever placed in the home. Pillows, placemats, shower curtains and bold wallpaper are available in cerulean, red and gray. The rectangular shaped pillows are made from 100% Belgian linen and finished with a complementary piped seam; and I can just picture loads scattered across  a bed or filling out my favourite chaise.

Based in Philadelphia, USA, Jeanine Hays, a policy attorney by profession started AphroChic as a means of escape from the stresses of corporate life. Indulging her passion for design, AphroChic started off exploring interior design with the aim of looking at design from a new perspective. Showcasing designers and artists from across the globe Jeanine has a particular interest in the ways ethnic heritage and culture can be luxurious and modern, using the mix of traditional and contemporary to make something new. After a year of blogging Jeanine took the step to go beyond writing about design and in 2009, along with her husband Bryan Mason, designed and launched a small yet beautifully formed collection of high-end interior furnishings and accessories that include some strikingly colourful graphic print pillows featuring inspiration from Ikat patterns found across parts North Africa and Asia and the chevron a permanent basic pattern that unites many cultures. As a testament to their love of interior design Jeanine and Bryan are currently writing their first book, ‘AphroChic: Modern.Soulful.Style’ due out in Autumn 2013 and Jeanine has started a blog documenting the process; and if you feel your home embodies Modern.Soulful.Style then you can submit it for consideration.

…funky and fresh, AphroChic is championing Modern, Soulful, Style for the home 

Tashanda
The Zimbabwe Sadza Batik is a modern classic, staking its claim as a future 'traditional' fabric and is one that takes pride of place across homes around the country and beyond in the form of wall hangings, bedspreads and tablecloths; I have mine that my mum brought back for me from Zimbabwe, I'm just trying to find the right size frame for it to hang on the wall, a task that has proved harder than I thought. The Sadza batik process works in much in the same way as the traditional wax method, substituting the wax for Sadza; a thick porridge made from pounded maize that is a staple of the traditional Zimbabwean diet. Applied to the fabric as a paste, the Sadza is left to hardened forming a resistance that allows the dye to adhere to the areas where there is no Sadza. Once dry the Sadza is picked off and the colour set by heating in a dryer. Giving the batiks their distinctive look the colours used are often rich and earthy; think burnt umber, deep blues, emerald greens, rusty reds and golden amber; bringing to life depictions of a contemporary Zimbabwean landscape that takes inspiration from the local wildlife including the ever popular guinea fowl, flora and fauna, traditional patterns such as the chevron and common traditional household objects like gourds and pots. Sadza batiks have become a contemporary way of telling and preserving stories and have captivated the imagination of crafters and art enthusiasts world wide, lending itself to many applications. So moving away from interiors and appearing in another guise I am loving these bags from Tashanda, that show of the batiks in all their glory. Not only do they serve to showcase Zimbabwean artistry, they are also a way of helping local artisan producers to reach a wider audience.  

Named the 'Afrobag', the bags created by artisans in Zimbabwe are the brainchild of Tashanda, a social enterprise based in the US that is actively seeking to showcase Zimbabwean arts and crafts to a global audience. Tashanda was started in 2006 by Nyasha Manyonda, a Zimbabwean now living in the US who was looking for a positive way of giving back and aims to help skilled artisans generate a source of income by commissioning products that can be sold through the online store. Loosely translated from the Shona language of Zimbabwe 'Tashanda' means ' we have have worked hard' and is kind of used for emphasis, but Tashanda in this case is taken from 'Tashanda pamwechete' which means 'we have worked together' and underlines the need to join together to make a difference in tackling issues like poverty. The Tashanda philosophy is to work with various artisanal groups seeking ways of setting up low capital projects that can help the artisans to develop their skills and allow for a space to experiment with creating products that have greater appeal to a retail market without compromising on quality, craftsmanship or tradition. 

The Afrobag is Tashanda's flagship product, and is the result of a partnership between Tashanda and two local micro entrepreneurs; brothers Max and Maki Menyere. The brothers had worked in a handbag factory but faced a loss of income when the factory closed down. Given two sewing machines by their former employer the brothers began making handbags, and upon meeting with Nyasha whilst was on holiday in Zimbabwe produced 30 for Tashanda and the future hope is to increase production, read more on the brother's and the creation of the Afrobag here.

The Afrobag is made using 100% Zimbabwean cotton which has undergone the Sadza batik treatment and then finished off with recycled leather trimmings; the unique nature of the batik designs means only one of each design is available. With their beautiful bold patterns and colours, they make great weekend bags.

...vibrant captivating expressions of a country within unique and stylish accessories

Magpie Art Collective
Often seen as unwanted scavengers due to a particular fondness for ‘collecting’ things, Magpies are notorious for their love of bright shiny objects, added to the nest in the hopes of attracting a mate. A different kind of Magpie allows you to furnish your nest with found objects, attracting comments from visitors as their gaze alights onto these colourful Regency-inspired chandeliers dripping with quirky charm. The chandeliers are from South African based company Magpie Art Collective who collect unwanted objects, turning them into magical innovative lighting ranges.

Finding the beauty in discarded rubbish, the one-of-a-kind creations are handcrafted using reclaimed trinkets and other found objects including bits of mirrors, toys, charms, copper wire, glass bottles, mosaic pieces and beads all woven into a collection of ornate chandeliers, wreaths and pendants. A socially conscious business working from a studio based in Barrydale, in the Western Cape region, Magpie Art Collective was founded in 1998 by designer, Scott B. Hart and social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow, Shane A. Petzer; who were later joined by Richard Panaino and fine artist and painter, Sean Daniel in 2006. Together the four members have sought to link design with their social entrepreneurial philosophy and in doing so work towards bettering the community they are part of. The commitment to social responsibility sees Magpie support income-generating projects through the Rooi Doppies Project, the framework the partners established to deliver such initiatives as; training some of the local crafters who now manufacture the various Magpie collections and the organisation of a basic recycling scheme within the Barrydale community that not only assists the collective with gathering reusable materials such as tin and plastics which can then be incorporated into the designs but also serves as a platform to educate on the need for environmental responsibility.

Magpie Art Collective’s products are bespoke creations created from scratch, however the company does rework old and existing chandeliers to suit client requirements. Giving the chandeliers a seal of approval two chandeliers currently hang in the White House, in Washington DC chosen by Michelle Obama for her daughters’ bedrooms – must be the magical playful feeling that surrounds them. I rather like the flamboyant Red Feathered Showgirl creation; looks like cascading tiers of rose petals, perfect for a delicately furnished boudoir.

…striking centrepieces that bring a touch of whimsy into the interior