Dylan Joseph of Semper Fortis, Cara Saven of Cara Saven Wall Design and Tshepo Mohlala of Tshepo Jeans have worked together to launch the #WeDesignSA initiative, a collaborative project focused on inspiring South African entrepreneurs. #WeDesignSA is also intended to portray how even in the toughest times South Africa’s creative community can come together to design a South Africa full of optimism, hope and resilience.
To support the growth of South African entrepreneurship a portion of the profit from sales of the #WeDesignSA Wonderland Collective will be donated to the Over the Rainbow Foundation, an organization offering guidance and support to South African entrepreneurs.
So what exactly does the #WeDesignSA collection entail? The three designers have created pieces centred around the bespoke Halcyon design created by wallpaper artist Cara Saven. Using Saven’s beautiful floral scape that features proteas, aloes, grapes and a kingfisher, representative of the mystical Halcyon Kingfisher, the collection features a new take on the Semper Fortis Prana chair and a jumpsuit by Tshepo Jeans.
Saven’s bespoke print has been recreated into a fabric used to cover the Semper Fortis Prana chair. The unique interactive loveseat invites you to sit front and back, a modular shape that encourages the paradox of being together and apart.
“South Africans are naturally resilient and entrepreneurial. This 70s inspired garment is designed to exude the presence and confidence of the woman wearing it.”, said Mohlala.
#WeDesignSA will launch at the Semper Fortis showroom in Kramerville at Design Joburg Collective on October 28 2021 where it will run for three days at the event before moving to Tshepo Jeans’ award-winning retail space in Hyde Park Corner.
“This collaboration is informed by all our roots. I am a Capetonian at heart and am naturally inspired by nature. My contribution has a mythical undertone, but is essentially bright and brave and very much reflective of the South African spirit,” Saven shared.
