Follow the African Design Trail at the V&A Waterfront

The V&A Waterfront has long been home to some of South Africa’s most exciting designers, makers and creative entrepreneurs.

The African Design Trail brings them together in one self-guided journey, taking you from the heritage charm of Alfred Mall to the creative energy of The Watershed and the established design houses of Victoria Wharf.

Here’s how to explore it.

Originally a coal shed and later a working harbour warehouse, Alfred Mall is now the home for contemporary African design. Behind its beautifully restored heritage walls, independent boutiques offer a shopping experience that feels a world away from the usual row of chain stores.

Start at AAFRICAA, where thoughtfully curated lifestyle pieces celebrate African craftsmanship. Discover contemporary décor and exquisitely crafted homeware at Avoova & Platandia, timeless, tailored womenswear at Hannah Lavery, and effortlessly wearable collections from Jane Valken and Mungo & Jemima, each offering their own take on contemporary South African fashion.

Then slow down at Patrick Mavros, where sculptural jewellery and art-inspired pieces reward a closer look, before stepping into Treasures of Africa, where gemstones, minerals and natural curiosities invite you to take your time browsing.

Seven boutiques. Seven completely different reasons to walk through the door.

While Alfred Mall is curated, the Watershed is everything at once.

More than 150 local makers, over 360 brands, all under one roof. It’s the kind of space where you can go in looking for one thing and leave later having found something you didn’t know you wanted. Fashion, sculptural jewellery, ceramics, woven textiles, original art, homeware. It doesn’t really stop.

A lot of the makers are there in person, working the floor themselves, which means you can ask what inspired a piece or how it was made and get a real answer. Some have been trading for years. Others are brand new to retail, many through the Watershed Design Lab, a programme that helps emerging local designers take that first step with a dedicated trading space, mentorship and training, and hands-on experience selling their work. The result is a mix that changes constantly, and that’s what makes each visit so exciting.

Victoria Wharf closes out the trail with some of South Africa’s more established design names.

Fields does leather the old-fashioned way, built to age beautifully and only get better with time, while Pichulik’s jewellery sits somewhere between sculpture and wearable art; you'll know it when you see it. A final stop at MAXHOSA showcases bold, unmistakably African knitwear that doesn't try to blend in.

Planning your visit? MAXHOSA is currently undergoing an exciting store revamp and will reopen in the second week of August in a bigger, refreshed space in the same Victoria Wharf aisle. While you’re there, keep an eye out for Tshepo Jeans, which is also set to open in August nearby – another stylish addition to the African Design Trail.

The best part of the African Design Trail isn’t ticking off every stop; it’s stumbling across the one you’ll still be thinking about on the drive home.

So don’t worry too much about following the map. Give yourself some time to wander the neighbourhood and see where it takes you.