Image Credit: Reform Studio

In a world of mass production, a quiet revolution is taking place in South African homes. Design-savvy consumers are discovering that supporting homegrown talent delivers not just beautiful objects but meaningful stories and significant economic impact.

Behind every handcrafted piece stands a creator with a unique vision. This year's Decorex Africa showcases an extraordinary collection of South African manufacturers and artisans blending traditional techniques with contemporary sensibilities.

Take Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T Design Studio, who made history as the first South African designer to have pieces in the permanent collection at Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs in the Louvre. Her iconic Tutu 2.0 pendant light and distinctive furniture pieces like the Noodle Sofa merge traditional craft techniques with forward-thinking design.

Or consider Reform Studio from Egypt, named Decorex Cape Town Designer of the Year 2025. Founders Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem have revolutionised sustainability through their innovative Plastex material, transforming discarded plastic bags into high-fashion accessories while revitalising Egypt's thousand-year-old weaving traditions.

Then there's Ananta, the Cape Town-based studio founded by sisters Viveka and Rucita Vassen during the 2020 lockdown. Recently featured in the prestigious Scape 100 List and selected for the Création Africa Final Top 12 Entrepreneurs, they create vibrant, joyful pieces celebrating their Indian and South African heritage.

When you choose that locally crafted piece, you're directing money right into the South African economy. The maths is compelling: for every R1 000 spent on locally produced design, about R720 stays within our economy, compared to just R280 for imported goods.

Beyond the immediate financial impact, supporting South African design preserves cultural heritage, develops local skills and grows businesses that become economic multipliers in their communities.

The environmental benefits of local sourcing are substantial. A dining table shipped from Europe generates up to 70 times more carbon emissions than one crafted in Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Many exhibitors at Decorex Africa have embraced sustainable practices. Indigenus creates planters from glass-reinforced concrete using naturally occurring earth oxides for nearly 50% of their formulation, while their wooden planters use FSC-certified Iroko, an African teak known for its durability and resistance to rot.

Greg Marshall Design, a Cape Town-based lighting studio, specialises in precision-engineered lighting produced in authentic materials like brass, copper and ceramic, all proudly manufactured locally with meticulous attention to detail.Then there's Ananta, the Cape Town-based studio founded by sisters Viveka and Rucita Vassen during the 2020 lockdown. Recently featured in the prestigious Scape 100 List and selected for the Création Africa Final Top 12 Entrepreneurs, they create vibrant, joyful pieces celebrating their Indian and South African heritage.

South African design has a distinctly local accent, drawing on our diverse cultural heritage and reflecting our complex social history. Consider Petra Maierhofer from Artep Studio, a Cape Town-based art and surface design studio specialising in sculptural artworks and liquid metal surfaces. 'For us, the future is about spaces that are deeply felt and thoughtfully designed,’ she explains about her Designer Spotlight showcase at Decorex this year.

The Curacion Collection, curated by Adrian Beukes and Dylan Thomaz, offers another compelling example of local ingenuity. Born during lockdown, their cross-pollination collection of furniture, lighting and textiles makes good design accessible while showcasing the talents of local artisans who craft each piece with exceptional attention to detail.

When you bring these pieces into your home, you're participating in a cultural conversation that connects maker and user across boundaries. Each object carries stories, skills and vision that make your space uniquely meaningful.