August called for a celebration of female talent in design, alongside the many visionaries driving the industry forward
A Sisterhood of Creativity
In a time where we are forever chasing the next new thing, it’s worth pausing to celebrate the enduring brilliance of those who’ve been shaping the design world – and doing so with effortless flair. Enter Fée Halsted and Catja Mavros, two creative powerhouses who are each a force in her own right. Together, they form a sisterhood of style, storytelling and African artistry.
Fée, the founder of Ardmore and Catja, the matriarch and muse behind Patrick Mavros, recently joined forces for a standout showcase in London during the Chelsea Flower Show. It was a coming together of two deeply rooted, proudly African design brands — both known for their originality, artistry and loyal global following. Their partnership is not just a union of brands, but also one of shared values: a love of heritage, a deep connection to nature and community and a fierce commitment to craftsmanship.
Fée’s whimsical yet masterful ceramics, brought to life by the talented artists she’s mentored over the years, have become synonymous with South African design. Her creations are vivid, playful and unmistakably Ardmore, often inspired by local wildlife and botanical wonders. Catja, on the other hand, may not be the one wielding the silversmith’s tools at the Patrick Mavros studio in Zimbabwe, but make no mistake, she is the soul of the brand. She continues to guide the family business alongside her four sons, with quiet elegance, impeccable taste and an unwavering passion stitched into every story the brand tells. Individually, they are icons. Together, they represent the kind of creative longevity that inspires across generations.
In Memoriam
The art world mourns the passing of the iconic art curator Koyo Kouoh. Koyo served as the executive director and chief curator of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. She was a visionary whose bold ideas and unwavering commitment transformed contemporary art across Africa and its diaspora. Her work extended far beyond museum walls as she challenged convention, sparked connection and was a passionate advocate for justice through every curatorial gesture. She believed in art as a language of truth and a tool for collective healing, a belief that continues to guide and inspire. We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
In the Family
Sister-helmed Hertex HAUS has unveiled its reimagined Bellville Showroom: a refined, design-forward space that brings together fabrics, wallcoverings, ready-made furniture, curated homeware and the new HAUS Café by Cake Canteen. Once the brand’s original warehouse and head office, the Bellville showroom now reflects Hertex’s evolution into a complete interior lifestyle destination. The transformation offers a tactile, immersive experience for both design professionals and style-savvy consumers.
Ash Ceramics
Cape Town-based ceramicist Catherine ‘Cat’ Ash is the creative force behind Ash Ceramics, a studio renowned for its beautifully crafted ceramic candles, crockery and vases. Formally trained as a sculptor and largely self-taught in clay, Catherine emerged as one of Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives in 2015, captivating audiences with her sculptural tableware and vases. Ash Ceramics operates from a shared studio space in Woodstock, offering both production and inspiration for aspiring ceramicists. As a female-led practice, the studio champions craft, collaboration and community. We’re particularly taken by their mini vase collection, which were gifted to the winner’s of our Designers of the Year awards last year. See them for yourself, here.
Seating for the Senses
Known for their sculptural fluid-form sofas, OKHA introduces ZONA: their latest modular sofa where sculptural, human-centric form and sensuous texture converge. With ZONA, creative director Adam Court advances his ongoing concept of ‘lounging landscapes’, reimagining the sofa as a terrain — shaped for the body and attuned to the senses.
Curved, soft and emotionally resonant, ZONA departs from the standard orthogonal language of modular seating. Its triadic junction of seat, arm and back evokes anatomical joints — a nod to the human figure — and invites interaction from all sides. Designed to be viewed in the round, ZONA can float in a space, serve as a central anchor or adapt to smaller urban interiors with its flexible modular format.
With seven module styles that can configure into at least 21 sofa formats — from a two seater to a 12-seater curved composition comprising three units — ZONA stands among the most versatile and design responsive seating systems available. The silhouette and sensuality of form invites you in, but the experience is completed by the upholstery. This includes a selection of richly tactile knubbly and bouncy bouclés, including ‘Surface Terracotta’ by Kirkby Design and ‘Sagone Racing’ from the Zinc Textiles Roccapina collection both available at Romo.
‘Upholstery is intrinsic to how the piece is experienced,’ says Court. ‘ZONA was conceived as a kind of seating landscape, where the human body could rest naturally and intuitively. The upholstery had to echo that philosophy. It becomes the skin of the piece, the first point of contact, so its texture, weight and behaviour matter as much as the form beneath it. Each fabric contributes its own emotional and visual register. ‘“Surface in Terracotta” has a warmth and depth that grounds the form; it brings a kind of architectural gravitas while still feeling deeply textured and alive,’ Adam explains. ‘“Sagone”, by contrast, is bold and lustrous bouclé weave with an artisanal woven quality which lends premium tactility to the seated experience. The two express different emotional tones but share a physical tactility that resonates with the way ZONA is meant to be inhabited — visually, physically and emotionally.’
In ZONA, these elements converge: form and fabric, architecture and intimacy, sight and touch. It’s seating designed not just to be seen, but to be sensed.
Look up, See the Light
Hoi P’loy, the bespoke lighting designers and manufacturers in Cape Town, introduce their new “Shard of Light” collection — 3D-printed and aimed at younger, up-and-coming South Africans. For the visionary founders, Ploy Phiromnam and Guy van der Walt, the idea came about as an organic process of sketching ideas onto paper. ‘In the beginning, we set out to create a light that was 3D-printed, which immediately opened up a new way of thinking, as we were not bound by many of the physical limitations of traditional production methods,’ they say. ‘We also wanted something minimal and contemporary in its aesthetic.
Ultimately, the shape that emerged may have tapped into subconscious memories of crystal shards, so the shard of light brought those worlds together.’ No apprentices to the art of 3D printing, the pair added the Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D printer to their equipment and it changed their game. ‘We also found a supplier of extremely high-quality, 3D-printing filament and began stocking a range of very tasteful matte colours.”
This collection by Hoi P'loy shows just how dedicated they are to innovation and accessibility to style and a refined aesthetic for all. ‘Our ultimate goal is to offer two options: one built by our team using our parts and printers, and a more cost-effective version which can be downloaded and printed anywhere in the world using standard parts purchased at any hardware store. It's our way of trying to make designer goods more accessible to more demographics.’ hoiploy.com
Okra Candle
The lit local brand, Okra Candle, is tapping into nature’s resources by transforming locally grown fruits and vegetables into unique, handcrafted candle molds that celebrate South African agriculture. ‘Each piece tells the story of its origin,’ says founder Michelle Rust, who embraces the natural imperfections of lemons, tomatoes, cherries and more to highlight nature’s authentic beauty. Rather than seeking flawless produce, Michelle selects those with character, curves, textures and quirks that inspire each striking design. A textured lemon rind or a cluster of cherries becomes the blueprint for a sculptural candle, each one echoing the land from which it came.
The Art of Restoration
What began as a shared passion for furniture and design between friends and neighbours, Cara Harmse and Simone Eckhoff, turned into what is now known as White Willow Home. The Cape Town-based studio is rooted in a love for interiors, antiques and craftsmanship, with each of their pieces carefully sourced by the duo and lovingly restored and modernised by hand. From drinks cabinets to dining tables, every item is thoughtfully revived, fusing nostalgia with modernity. They have recently expanded into the “White Willow” collection, which features a small collection of solid oak pieces designed and made in the area. The pair plans on growing this collection further into headboards and accessories.
Wallflowers No More
Founded by long-time business and design partners, Samantha and Taryn, Sasi Wallpaper has been quietly shaping the South African interiors scene for over 16 years. What started as their shared passion project has evolved into one of the country’s most respected names in wall coverings — not just for their curated selection of premium wallpapers and striking murals, but also for their authenticity, warmth and unwavering attention to detail. ‘At Sasi, it’s never just about wallpaper,’ says Samantha. ‘It’s about the feeling a space gives you, the way a wall can shift the whole energy of a room.’
With showrooms in Johannesburg, and more recently in Cape Town, the pair pride themselves on an inclusive company culture. Their core team, comprising entirely of women, has remained unchanged since its inception. ‘It’s something we’re really proud of,’ says Taryn. ‘We’ve built a space where collaboration, respect and a shared love of design lead the way.’ This collaborative spirit is also reflected in their wallpaper collections.
Alongside ready-to-go in-store options and exclusive international collections, Sasi also offers custom print wallpaper designs. This gives decorators, architects and homeowners alike the chance to create something truly unique. Sasi Wallpaper stands as a refreshing reminder of the power of female entrepreneurship, creativity and intuition.
Samantha and Taryn have built more than just a brand, they’ve cultivated a community. They are proof that when women design together, the results are anything but ordinary.
