Five Local Designers That Promise a Greener Future
Nature is a constant in our daily lives. It surrounds us every day, ensures fresh oxygen and gives us the beauty of fauna and flora. We’ve identified a couple of local designers who understand the importance of nature. They use nature to inspire their designs – whether it’s in the form of furniture, textiles, fashion, interiors or architecture.
Meyer Von Wielligh’s Wooden Furniture
Taking furniture design to the next level, Abrie Von Wielligh and Norman Meyer have been making the world greener for nearly two decades. Based in George on the Garden Route, their partnership is surrounded by one of the best displays of natural beauty in South Africa.
Using only indigenous woods, Meyer Von Wielligh emphasise the unique properties of each raw piece of timber when designing their furniture pieces. Evidently, each piece is completely different to the next.
“We believe that each tree has a story to tell and so we respect the beauty inherent in every piece of wood that we use,” Von Wielligh says.
These designers are inspired by the trees that surround them and ensure they use environmentally sustainable practices when hand selecting timber and producing pieces. Further to this, the designers plant a tree for each piece of furniture they sell.
Textile Designer, Nicole Levenberg
Based in Johannesburg, Nicole Levenberg is a South African textile designer and artist. After studying at Central St Martins in London, she returned to her home country to gain inspiration from its natural beauty.
Predominantly known for her meticulously hand drawn designs for Aureum, Nicole mainly uses silk and velvet and utilises patterns found in nature.
She says: “I have always been acutely aware that nature is the most remarkable inventor in terms of pattern and colour. Far more spectacular even than anything my imagination could possibly conjure up. So, I utilise this endlessly inspiring and vast resource as the basis for all my designs. Coming from a traditional background in fine art I always start my design process with good old pen on paper. Although technology is amazing to help the process along, for me there is nothing better than a raw hand drawn line.”
Lara Klawikowski, one of SA's Slow Fashion Designers
This South African and Polish fashion designer draws on her dual heritage to inspire her womenswear collectives. Known for her floral motifs, the Western Cape’s fynbos inspired Klawikowski’s Wycinanki collection.
She says: “The fynbos that we take pride in is under threat,” and “using flowers or things that grow in nature in the designs is an immediate way to get people thinking about nature.”
Furthermore, she uses only up-cycled, recycled or biodegradable fabrics in her design and production process. With a zero-waste cutting technique, she forms brand new fabric panels from plastic packets, mielie meal bags and fabric offcuts.
Additionally, her Unearthed collection highlights how waste can be repurposed for good. She says: “The textile prints for the material panels were inspired by fallen leaves on a forest floor — nature’s waste. Fallen leaves decompose naturally and are part of a natural recycling process. I wanted to mimic this.”
Adene Nieuwoudt’s Flower Farm
Adene Nieuwoudt is an interior designer and owner of a flower farming business that has been around since 2016. Nestled in the Western Cape’s Breede River Valley, she has over 200 flower varieties on her 11 hectare plot.
Her passion for flowers has always been within her, but it came to full effect when she started working as a wedding photographer. She realised South Africa has a limited number of local flower farms which resulted in a large number of imported goods.
Nevertheless, in a collaboration with Mr Price for their homeware collection in 2022, Nieuwoudt used her flowers as inspiration for patterned duvet covers, cushions, tablecloths, diffusers and candles.
“Our flowers capture the ephemeral beauty of each season,” said Nieuwoudt. She uses only eco-friendly practices to farm her flowers which are carried over to the public experience of Pick Your Own Flowers. So, visit Lourensford Wine Estate, Val De Vie Winelands Lifestyle Estate and The Big Red Barn to make your perfect bouquet for home.
Going Green with Veld Architects
Green architectural designers wrap up our list with Veld Architects. Based in Lanseria, Johannesburg, the environment is the core of what Veld Architects is all about. Subsequently, with commercial and residential projects, nature is considered in each and every design and building process.
Gillian Holl, founder of Veld Architects, says: “We are passionate about sustainable, regenerative, green architecture that considers the environment — architecture with a conscience.”
Furthermore, Holl says her team understands the impact construction can have on the environment and they consider all the aspects of this. “Function over form; nature over urban sprawl, and health over aesthetic.”
In the end, consumers also play a role in promising a greener future for society. When commissioning a designer for a piece of work – no matter if it’s furniture, homeware or fashion – make sure that they value environmental sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
