21 Oct 2024 It’s been 10 years since Watershed opened its doors in October 2014. Now, a decade later, the pioneering V&A Waterfront design hub is proudly celebrating the 300 local brands that have showcased and sold their unique products here, contributing to what has become Cape Town’s design story. This season, we welcome 14 new stores to the V&A Watershed – all small entrepreneurial businesses run with heart and consciousness. Read on to meet these South African and African innovators. BY JOHN DESIGNS https://byjohndesigns.com/ The homeware items you’ll find at By John Designs have been designed with the sole purpose ‘to make you happy’. Wall hooks shaped like lobsters, pink-and-yellow leopard-print cotton napkins, and red-and-gold velvet cushions are just some of the vibrant items you can pick up to make your interiors pop with personality. Founder and Creative Director Kaylee John’s years in the Cape Town film industry bring an added sense of play to this brand that she started during the Covid lockdown. @byjohn_ CHIC FUSION https://chicfusion.co.za/ Wool felt and natural fibres are the core materials used for Chic Fusion’s décor and fashion accessories. Cushion covers, bowls, throws, vessels, slippers and scarves are produced from merino wool, karakul and other pure fibres, resulting in a collection that speaks of textured luxury and locality. Founder Razaan Jakoet has explored many felt-making and dying techniques to land on her coveted designs, which are now made by women in her Woodstock studio whom she has personally trained. @chicfusiontextiles CRATES OF BEAUTY https://cratesofbeauty.com/ Artisans in Crates of Beauty’s Joostenbergvlakte workshop have honed their skills in weaving bamboo and ilala lampshades and crafting precision-engineered stainless-steel pendant-light frames. They’ve also perfected the art of making headboards, mirrors and chairs (including an awesome fold-up beach chair) from sustainable materials like rattan and sungkai wood, and cushion covers decorated with palm raffia. The wonky ‘garlic gourd’ is a modern take on a traditional Ndebele vessel, while macrame wall hangings and scatter-cushion covers made with cotton twine show off a talent for modern weaves, knots and tassels that add to a home’s expression of calm. @cratesofbeauty DIANA SEBOKE Diana Seboke Zitha’s eponymous brand (Diana Seboke) celebrates the art of wool and crochet couture. Her cushy coats and jerseys are one-of-a-kind works of art. She also uses rope and recycled plastic in some designs, creating high-quality environmentally friendly yarns for statement wardrobe pieces. Diana started out in the Watershed Design Lab (an entrepreneurial incubator space and programme supported by the Craft and Design Institute and the V&A Waterfront) and is a past winner of the South African leg of the Society of Dyers and Colourists design competition. Her interest in crochet allows her to bring an old craft back to life in exciting (and highly fashionable) ways. @dianaseb0ke ETHEREAL CANDLE CRAFTERS https://etherealcandlecrafters.com/ Here’s where you’ll find hand-poured candles that are able to create a world of their own in any display. Ethereal Candle Crafters has developed a signature colour palette and unique wax blend that speaks of simple sophistication – in hues that range from periwinkle and toffee to pistachio and copper. Its non-drip formula, long burning time and made-to-order approach are all part of the candles’ allure. Choose from the classic or sculptural range of shapes, or opt for buying a candlescape, i.e. a curated bundle of mismatched designs that add visual interest to the table. The collection of scented candles, made from soy wax, is infused with essential oils that add a sensory and therapeutic element to ‘lighting up’. @etherealcandlecrafters FUATA MOYO https://fuatamoyo.com/ Fuata Moyo is a Swahili phrase that means to ‘follow the heart’. It is also a design-meets-art company founded by four siblings who have been led by their late father’s calling as an artist. This fashion brand is all about heading that call towards advancing your personal style, through slow-fashion items decorated with unique works of art, painted onto the fabric in dynamic patterns and tones. Unisex shirts, denim jackets, hats, cross-reference skirts, jumpsuits, bomber jackets and construction pants – some designed in collaboration with other brands – come together in capsule collections that couldn’t be more authentic. Fuata Moyo’s bespoke tailoring service allows you to get the fit that’s perfect for you. @fuata_moyo HUE Hue is a jewellery studio that crafts precious pieces inspired by the mood-boosting, soul-lifting powers of natural materials, precious and semi-precious stones and colours bursting with meaning. Its elegant designs – designed by Zoja Mihic – range from classic settings to eye-popping ear, arm and neck candy, in what the brand calls its ‘demi-fine jewellery’. There’s an uplifting story attached to each piece that relates to a contemporary expression of natural beauty. Hue’s collection is made to be treasured – a keepsake that locks in memories of a magical time spent in Cape Town. @huestud.io RAINBOW ARTZ Another previous Watershed Design Lab incubatee, Rainbow Artz specialises in the South African craft of telephone-wire and beaded-wire décor accessories. Some pieces are even made from recycled aluminium cans. Products include egg bowls shaped like chickens and superbly finished animal sculptures, all hand-worked by artisan Tavengwa Dahwa, who is inspired by the colours of the telephone wire he uses. Because each piece is individually crafted, they all have their own sense of life and energy. @rainbow_artz1 REFUSE CLOTHING https://refuseclothing.co.za/ Refuse Clothing stems from Durban’s cultural heritage, and is now seeping into Cape Town’s fashion culture, with men’s garments that reflect a dedication to quality and craftsmanship , while enhancing longevity and a timeless appeal. From knitwear to head gear, the streetwear brand – founded by Tebogo Mokgope and Minenhle Memela – intertwines African aesthetics with modern designs. Look out for Refuse Clothing’s ‘Iqhugwane’ collection, which was inspired by the process of building a hut, and therefore sports earthy hues, with designs reminiscent of vernacular architectural surface patterns. @refuse_rfc SOMETHING GOOD STUDIO https://somethinggoodstudio.com/ ‘We don’t chase seasons or trends,’ say Something Good and Romaria Founders Zydia Botes and Carla Pinto, who have joined forces under Something Good Studio to produce exceptional textiles that last a lifetime. Romaria’s lifestyle knitwear and Something Good’s homeware range are the epitome of comfort and luxury. Every piece is made slowly, extremely well and on a small scale – from natural fibres and remarkable stitching that highlight their conscious, environmentally friendly production. From kimonos and skirts to blankets and rugs, there’s something good for everyone. @smtnggoodstudio VELT https://velt.co.za/ Velt is a botanicals brand with a difference, that invites you to look at Mother Nature with new eyes. It brings South Africa’s diverse plant life into the design sphere through pressing and preserving flora in gorgeous wall hangings, framing the plants behind glass, with metal frames and brass chains that allow them to be displayed on walls. Founder Nicola Andrag’s vision to combine her passion for both nature and beautiful aesthetics has resulted in everlasting pieces that serve an environmental purpose, as a portion of profits goes to starting an eco bushcamp and wildlife conservation organisation in the Kafue National Park in Zambia. @velt.co.za WASS https://studiowass.myshopify.com/ As the brainchild of fashion designer Nelle van Deventer, WASS epitomises effortless style through clean lines and simplicity. Its wardrobe staples include crisp tailored shirts made from 100% Egyptian cotton, pure linen dresses that accommodate all sizes, and upcycled items crafted out of off-cuts from production runs, thus reducing fabric waste and highlighting the brand’s determination to be part of South Africa’s slow fashion movement. WASS’s garments are crafted with durability in their DNA, so that they’re able to last season after season. @wass____studio Coming next month… HARVEST MOON WATERCOLOURS WEBSITE The handcrafted, vegan and bespoke watercolour paints you’ll find at Harvest Moon are as dreamy as the name suggests, embedded with pearlescence that holds a high shimmer. Here, Founder Angie Bell has developed a unique way to express her love of colour, while using her background in psychological counselling to bring an element of therapy into the art world. All colour pigments are ethically sourced and cruelty-free, and Harvest Moon’s binder includes essential oils and Angie’s personal alchemy of ingredients. Choose dot cards, half pans, ceramic palettes, individual watercolours, limited editions or the whopper of 50 colours in one pan. @harvestmoonwatercolours NAMMU CERAMICS https://nammuceramics.com/ With earth as its muse, Nammu Ceramics (named after the Mesopotamian goddess of the sea) enhances everyday rituals with pieces that hold more than meets the eye. Ceramic artist Jade Ruijzenaars creates objects that embody her admiration for material research, ancient pottery, mythology and the feminine – through wild clays that offer beautifully irregular textures. Jade shares her space, knowledge and love for the craft with a team of women who support her in hand-producing each item. The concept of bowls, cups and dishes is transformed in this studio, as these often overlooked items of tableware become pieces that one wants to hold onto forever, turning every meal into a magical occasion. @nammu.ceramics V&A Watershed continues to bring Cape Town and its visitors high-quality, sustainable slow fashion, handmade jewellery and accessories, ethically produced homeware, artisanal craft and so much more. Come explore our sustainable designs for yourself, and enjoy the talent of our diverse community of creatives. Watershed is open seven days a week, Monday to Sunday, 10am until 7pm.
