Okapi
May/June this year saw South African luxury concept boutique, Merchants on Long pop up in London at The Shop at Bluebird. I was away during that time and just missed it, however those who visited were treated to some of the African continent's established and emerging fashion brands including: Lalesso, SAWA, MaxHosa by Laduma, Bantu and Okapi. Okapi is a luxury handbag line produced in South Africa by Hanneli Rupert, the founder of Merchants on Long.

Launched in 2012, Okapi is named after the Central African Antelope; a solitary, elusive creature once believed to be mythical, and is often referred to as the 'African Unicorn'. This air of mystery and the thrill of discovery is what defines the Okapi brand. Placing an emphasis on artisanal craftsmanship, Okapi produces handcrafted handbag and accessories collections made with leathers including suede and ostrich, and come in evocatively named colours like cocoa and cognac. Okapi's creations also feature detailing like 18 carat gold hardware and Springbok horns for a unique touch. I, however was taken with the combination of traditional basket weaving in vivid colours and red ostrich leather to create a gorgeously stylish pouch bag; just the thing for the weekend chic.  
 

Urban Africa
The humble stainless steel teaspoon is given a twist with the addition of colourful glass seed beads tightly wrapped around the handle with non-toxic silver wire. The teaspoons are part of a range of beaded cutlery from UK -based retailer, Urban Africa, and come as a set of four, available in five colour combinations. Other items to choose from include stainless steel cake forks; silver plated cake slice lifters and napkin rings; and tiny glass salt and pepper shakers; all of which are complemented with a range of styles that include full beading, double strand or straight line wire wrapping. Hand washing is recommended to prolong the longevity of the designs.  

Urban Africa was founded in 2007 by two South African expats, Sharon and Ryan, living in the UK, who, wanting to surround themselves with the things that reminded them of 'home' but having to face the realities of baggage allowance that meant each time they went home for the holidays only to return with excess baggage in the form of gifts or the unique crafts they would have come across. It was this frustration and the desire to share their heritage and finds with friends and other expats living the UK that led the duo to set-up Urban Africa. Many of the products retailed in the Urban Africa website are sourced from small producers in South African be they individuals or cooperatives working with artists and crafters to help foster sustainable trade. The company also donates part of its profits to identified communities and charities in South Africa.

The cutlery shown here was made by Africa Smiles, a business that works to help preserve traditional Zulu beading by seeking ways to keep it dynamic and contemporary. 

Make for beautiful, thoughtful gifts if you can be tempted to part with them.

Contemporary South African Beach House
Inspired by nature, a beach house in South Africa is unique and stylish in its simplicity. The exterior of the building was what caught my attention as the finished appearance is quite unusual. Designed to have low impact on its surroundings, the building features cladding and shutters made from the wood of eucalyptus trees that have been bound together and hand twisted with brass wire.

Huge folding glass doors that let maximum amounts of light flood in, give way to a patio that has spectacular views over the ocean and mountains, and allows for al fresco dining. An open plan living room and kitchen, work to create a light and airy seamless space. Furnished with simple elegance, the emphasis on nature and relaxation carries through to the interior decor, which is defined by a fairly neutral colour scheme that is clean and functional, softened by the incorporation of organic natural objects and finds from India and across Africa. Concrete floors throughout add to the feeling of coolness and gently contrast white plain walls and the sandblasted pine splash backs, counters and cupboard doors in the kitchen area. 

A pool with a waterfall adds to the harmony in what looks like a restful, beach hideaway.
  

Additional details:
For further information about Livingetc and so see the rest of the beach house visit: www.housetohome.co.uk  

West Elm/South African Design
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 such as Pedersen + Lennard, Ceramic Matters, Gemma Orkin, Source and Helen Vaughan. Choosing a selection to showcase was difficult, but here are some favourites.

In their own words, West Elm '...designs clean, simple products for modern living'. The company uses materials sourced from around the globe, which are combined with natural and urban influences, and the designs produced include an increasing number of green products. Many of West Elm's products are created keeping in mind the small spaces that often come with urban living. West Elm believes that great design should be affordable, and collaborate whenever they can with design talent drawn from around the world. Travelling widely to seek inspiration for their designs, West Elm also collaborates with a diverse selection of artisans and not-for-profit workshops encountered on their travels.

[Image credits: top, Helen Vaughan; centre, Gemma Orkin; 
centre, Sydney Studios; bottom, Potter's Workshop - West Elm]

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 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. 

Swazi Candles was established in 1981 and soon began training and employing members of the local community in the art of candle making. The candles are made using a layered technique called millefiore, which is more commonly associated with Italian Murano and Venetian glass, commonly seen in the rare, and highly sought-after African Trade beads that became a popular form of trade currency in North and West Africa; where local varieties were also created. Applying the glass technique to wax has resulted in colourful and uniquely patterned works of art. The candles are formed from a slow burning hard wax outer shell which serves to preserve the designs; whilst the softer inner burns quicker creating a soft illuminating glow as it hollows out leaving behind a space that can be refitted with a tea light or votive to recreate the effect. 

Ubuhle
Approaching London's National Art Gallery last year, situated to the immediate left of the entrance was a living painting. An expanse of wall that had been planted with approximately 25 various species, totalling over 8000 plants that resulted in myriad colours of leaves that had been cleverly arranged to blend in and bring to life Van Gogh's A Wheatfield, with Cypresses on which it was based; and from afar simply looked like a gaint wall mural. The first time I saw it I did a double take, having not realised I was looking at a 'lot' of plants; and going in for a closer look I just had to pause for a moment amidst the hustle and bustle of Trafalgar Square to marvel at the effect. I was reminded of the living painting when I saw some intricately beaded panels by Ubuhle, from far the effect is the same until you take a closer look and realise that instead of paint, in the case of Ubuhle glass beads are used, giving a grainy effect like painting with different coloured sand. Akin to a tapestry the resulting effect is incredible, and each panel is unique, and whether abstract or literal seems to tell a story; looking at them I feel like creating one must be a labour of love and can only image how long it takes to bead each one, especially the massive commissioned pieces filling whole walls.

Ubuhle, the Xhosa word for beautiful, is a collective of eight women bead artists and was established in 1999 by Ntombephi Ntombela and Bev Gibson. Now based in South Africa's Transkei region, what started out as a project helping artists living in rural areas to use their traditional beading skills to earn an income has grown into a revered fine art generating commissions from high profile organisations and being sought after by art collectors worldwide, in addition to being exhibited in galleries.

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. 

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.  

High Thorn
Taking inspiration from traditional African design and techniques, and combining it with nature and a contemporary design aesthetic, has resulted in a unique range of interior products from South African-based company High Thorn. Handcrafted in Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal High Thorn's product range includes lighting, ottomans, tables, leather pots and twig framed mirrors.

High Thorn's lighting designs are a central feature. Leather strips are woven, plaited, twisted or combined with glass beads to form elegant pendants and chandeliers that either hang with a soft sensual drape; or are crocheted and wrapped to form individual organic shaped cocoons. Other designs feature majestic chandeliers made from woven twigs; primarily using Jacaranda twigs sourced from local tree fellers, that are then stripped back and treated with white wash or stains like Mahogany. High Thorn also offers clients a custom design service, and designs have been in the interior of a luxury Lodge and other establishments across the region. In the server and coffee table designs the twigs used as legs, supporting glass and wooden tops.  

Working with skilled artisans, every order allocated to an employee comes with instilling a sense of personal responsibility, a factor that is part if the company's philosophy. The beading work is done by a group of local women who each work for themselves under the umbrella of a central organisation.