In anticipation for our upcoming Afro-inspired Ideas and Pattern Issue, we’ve gathered some more bright finds from the Design Indaba Expo: Dizzying patterns, afro-cool colour, beautiful pattern combos, and colour blocking with wood and steel. Here’s the mix…
On one of our many scrambles through the Expo we found these super bright Langazela cushion covers (above) by Africa Ignite, handmade by rural women across KwaZulu-Natal. Its delightfully crazy patterns and colours had instant appeal. Heather Moore (previous DECO blogger) and Kelly Berman (Design Indaba Expo Manager) both listed this as their favourite find at this year’s Expo.
‘One can never have too many scatter cushions’, says Kelly Berman. She’s right. These cushions from Indigi Designs (above) combine local Shweshwe and African prints with modern geometric pattern, a hot trend this season.
Continuing this trend is Afrosol with their fun umbrellas. It’s made from bamboo, wire and fabric. They’ve combined traditional local prints with modern geometric prints for great pattern combos.
Colour blocking on wood also made an appearance in the form of Goet‘s hanging lights (above, left) and High Thorn‘s bright neon and wooden vessels (above, right).
Colourful wire products by Willard Masarurwa for Feeling African (above, left), paired with Woodlam‘s bright blue wooden chair (above, right) created a beautiful colour display at The Western Cape Furniture Initiative stand. Vogel presented a wood and wire combo in the form of their updated ‘Love Me Love Me Not Table’ (below).
And then some more wood and brights: A beautiful upcycled storage display unit (above) and quirky colourful legs (below) by Abode, also on display at The Western Cape Furniture Initiative stand.
The Gold Cafe experience
Actually, I have to disagree with how i’ve been quoted above
. You CAN have too many scatter cushions. I have cupboards bursting full of them. So I’m afraid I won’t be buying that beautiful one from Ignite Africa.
What a beautiful post!The Ignite your World scatters and abode crate side table are my absolute favourites.
Hi there, thank you so much for featuring our “Langazela cushion covers”! Our company name is Africa Ignite – we are an NGO based in Durban and we work with crafters all over the rural areas of KZN. The front of these cushions are embroidered on milliebags! The original design comes from one of our crafters Mma Betina Khumalo and together we came to these cushion covers… They are part of our “Ignite” range. If you would be interested in them please contact me at manoushka@africaignite.co.za
Warm regards.
Wonderful to see Africa!Ignite in full colour. My dear friends there are amazing, inspire and are inspired by craft workers all over KZN.
I’ve visited them (from Rural Northumberland, NE England, UK) and some of the crafters and am thrilled to see some their work being showcased like this. The ‘real stuff’ is just as stunning
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Wow wonderful post,