WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Supplied
Artist Sydney Hadebe, Ardmore’s Wiseman Mpofu and Fairlawns Boutique Hotel have collaborated to create a magnificent new suite.
Known for his acclaimed Ardmore fabric and scarf designs – including the prestigious Ardmore x Hermès collaborations – artist Sydney Hadebe joined forces with Wiseman Mpofu, a shining star among Ardmore’s talented painters. Together, they were tasked with adorning the 8m x 3m wall of the new Ardmore Satara Suite at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa.
The concept for the collab came via Fairlawns’ creative and managing director Michael Kewley, who envisioned an exclusive, one-off suite for appreciative guests among the hotel’s picturesque gardens. He imagined a tapestry of vibrant flora, with majestic leopards nestled amid the branches – a tableau reminiscent of Africa’s untamed wilderness. And, taking cues from Ardmore’s acclaimed collaborations with British brand Cole & Son – particularly the Jabula collection and Leopard Walk wallpaper designs – the concept for the suite began to take shape.
Michael chose Ardmore’s Leopard Walk wallpaper – a jewel in Ardmore’s inaugural line with Cole & Son – for the bathroom. To complement this, Ardmore’s founder and creative director Fée Halsted drew inspiration from the evocative Jabula collection, infusing elements of the Satara and Protea Garden designs. Her aim was to transport guests to the captivating and romantic landscapes of Africa, inviting them to lose themselves in the allure of the continent’s pristine wild places. ardmore-design.com | fairlawns.co.za
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