Celebrating three decades of excellence, Rowley & Hughes is one of South Africa’s premier suppliers of superior quality natural fibre and multi-use floor coverings.

Through the years Rowley & Hughes has led the market by pioneering weave techniques, varied colour choices and fibre selection and collaborating closely with industry-leading designers. Their extensive range is sourced from leading floor covering manufacturers around the world.

At the heart of their success lies the brand’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards when it comes to the quality of their products and the service delivered by their team of experts. Their collection includes Coir, Jute, Seagrass, Sisal, Wool and Sisal Mix and Multi-Use.

VISI’s Top 3 Rug Recommendations

Ideal for any space – these are available as area rugs or fitted wall-to-wall.

Jute (alternatively known as Hemp) in both Boucle and Panama weaves. This soft natural fibres adds warmth, texture and depth to any setting.

Wool & Sisal Pearl Grey – a mixture of 25% wool and 75% sisal. This is one of Rowley & Hughes most luxurious products. The intricate blend of colours and patterns lends an unmatched sophistication.

Wool & Sisal Chunky Weave Graphite – a mixture of 40% wool and 60% sisal in a deep grey colour. Being a versatile product it will adapt to either a smart casual or smart formal appearance depending on the setting.

For more info, visit rowleyandhughes.co.za.

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The new flatweave rug collection by MONN and Evolution Product is inspired by nostalgic narratives, sun printed specimens and African shapes.

MONN and Evolution Product have teamed up to produce a designer flatweave rug collection, available from the end of March 2023.

Amanda du Plessis, who leads Evolution Product, has been dreaming about collaborating with crafted carpet experts MONN after visiting their factory in Harrismith several years ago.

Renowned carpet-maker Pieter Nouwens’ sons, who head up MONN, are leading a new generation of crafted carpets, pushing what’s possible with modern technologies and maintaining an appreciation of good design.

Through commitment and passion, this new designer rug collection combines the design essence of Evolution Project’s collectable ranges and the manufacturing expertise of MONN. For the collaboration, the Evolution Project team created a striking range of visuals inspired by heritage visuals, sun-printed specimens and African shapes, which the carpet experts translated into hard-wearing rugs ideal for high-traffic areas and outdoor patios.

The rugs from this designer collaboration are fully washable, UV resistant, and finished with a MagicGrip^TM coating to prevent slipping. The carpet fibres are expertly extruded to withstand the harsh South African climate. 100% Locally made, the rugs are proudly manufactured and finished at MONN’s state-of-the-art mill in Harrismith.

This collaboration will be available exclusively through MONN’s online store and directly from Evolution Product. 

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The rugs that a dream team of South African Designers and contemporary artists have created for luxury lodge Molori Safari are almost too gorgeous to tread on.

The ultra-cool series of rugs that now electrify the living spaces of the exclusive Molori Safari in the North West’s Madikwe Game Reserve originated in the height of Covid.

It was during the constrained days of early lockdown that Megan Hesse and Andrea Kleinloog of design outfit Hesse Kleinloog decided it was time to create carpets as part of the interior revamp they were doing at the bush escape.

Not long into the refit, the team realised that round statement rugs would be a brilliant addition to the space. They’d work with the bones of the place, and complement the artworks going into the lodge from owner Ivor Ichikowitz’s impressive art collection. But round rugs are hard to get at the best of times in South Africa, let alone during a pandemic.

Never one to turn down a challenge, and working with Koos Groenewald of creative studio Jana + Koos, Andrea and her team elected to have the rugs custom-made by Brabetz Carpet Mill in Durban. They also roped in five other major artists to help them bring the huge pieces to life.

In hindsight, the task seems almost farcical: no-one was able to visit the mill during lockdown, and everything was done over video and phone. But thanks to some seriously hard work, ingenuity and graphic-design savvy from Koos and the carpet crafters, the result is six sensational works by Athi-Patra Ruga, Cameron Platter, Jody Paulsen, Maja Marx, Nabeeha Mohamed, and Koos too.

“We started this project in the deepest, darkest depths of Covid uncertainty, and it was such a spark of joy during such a dark time,” says Andrea. “In many ways, the absolute fun and frivolity of colour, and the joy of engagement, were so welcome in the disjointed, masked-up world.” Over the next few pages, the artists weigh in on this jump from canvas to carpet.

Nabeeha Mohamed’s Rug

“I thought the rug was way better than my original watercolour artworks!” says Nabeeha of a finished product that brilliantly captures her trademark bold work, which often depicts domestic scenes. “It’s a combination of three different artworks, and it’s been translated beautifully,” she adds, noting that, prior to this project, she’d never worked with carpets and didn’t understand the skill set that goes into turning a flat paperwork into a luscious and colourful artwork of this kind.

Athi-Patra Ruga’s Rug

Of this practical manifestation of his “Future White Women of Azania” performance art series and his 2013 tapestry work The Votive Portrait of Her, the much-celebrated artist says, “It has been a pleasure to see a work that was live performance art move into two-dimensional petit point. With the Molori collaboration, it moved into a large-scale beauty that employed elements of texture and colour. This stays true to our studio’s ethos of stretching ourselves over various media to access all audiences.”

Jody Paulsen’s Rug

Molori Safari’s main lodge features the riotous carpet version of Jody’s 2013 felt collage, Eat Me (Bananas). His focus on textile-based art meant that Jody had always wanted to try his hand at creating a carpet – and so the Molori project ticked that box. He hopes that this vivid and mesmerising yellow-and-black piece triggers “a feeling of joy and happiness”, and that in it, guests experience the same sense of charm evoked by the original artwork.

Majamarx’s Rug

A painter who has been working with visual language for many years, Maya found it interesting to “see an artwork transformed”, and was thrilled by the request to turn one of her pieces into a rug.

The inky-hued artwork that the rug riffs off was inspired by ribbons and the way they fall to the ground. “It’s about the power of line,” she says, adding, “I really love the way in which the quality of the line and the embossed quality of the rug came together.”

Koos Groenewald’s Rug

For his carpet, Koos put on his hat as an artist – “an official side hustle” to his job as one half of Jana + Koos. He used a mixedmedia artwork that incorporated cork, and which was lying around his studio, as the springboard for his flooring masterpiece. “I would love everyone to see the cheeky side of this rug,” says the mind behind the rug project of his textured creation. “It’s a little bit naughty and has a little bit of nudity in it.”

Cameron Platter’s Rug

The acclaimed KZN-based visual artist is used to working with various craftspeople to realise his pieces, but admits he was amazed and thrilled by the end result of the Molori endeavour. His rug depicts “a deconstructed lion going crazy on a dance floor”. “When I was approached to work on this project, I was over the moon,” he says. “Based on an artwork called A Night of Bliss, the rug takes from the original and makes it better!”

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The Lesotho-based artisanal homeware brand encompasses the myriad of  possibilities that exist in designing a sustainable future; one that is inclusive and lifestyle oriented.

Although the exciting space of eco-conscious brands is expanding, it is still a niche that is yet to transform when it comes to representation. Barali, a Black-woman owned design duo from Lesotho prides itself on creating sustainable products that are not only stylish but resonate with people beyond the borders of Southern Africa. Bold expertly crafted rugs and throws are only the beginning for this growing brand, which is creating impactful change through their community, by working with Lesotho artisans, sourcing their materials locally and preserving their culture in aesthetic and name.

Barali is a Sesotho word which translates to “daughters”, an ode to who they are and what they come from.

VISI  spoke to the duo to find out more about who they are and what has gone in to the process of birthing their inimitable brand in their homeland.

Who are the powerhouses behind the brand?

Barali’s co-founders are Mookho Ntho, Creative Director and Moliehi Mafantiri, Operations Director. Mookho Ntho is an African contemporary artist with surrealist influences and Moliehi Mafantiri is an environmental scientist with an eco-feminism lens.

How did you choose the name for your brand?

We wanted a name that would be simple and memorable. Barali is the Sesotho word for daughters, it seemed apt for us to have a name that represents who we are and where we come from.

Where did the idea of creating an artisanal lifestyle brand come about?

Lesotho has a long and rich design history, and that inspired us to create a brand that would highlight our local artisans’ strengths.

What is your background as individuals in terms of design?

Although we both are passionate about design, Mookho as our creative director is a visual artist by profession. She started by creating fashion illustrations and now her surrealism influenced paintings primarily explore fashion, pop culture, gender expression, and social lives of Black subjects.

You are based in Lesotho, how has that influenced or inspired your brand’s evolution?

We have been conscious to build our brand in a way that will center Basotho. So, we insist on working with local artisans and when we consider increasing our capacity, centering Basotho means that we would like to train more Basotho weavers. It means that we would like to facilitate cultural continuity by keeping our weaving tradition going. As a sustainable brand we also look to use as many locally sourced materials as we can, which is why locally sourced hand spun mohair yarn is used for all our designs. Ideally, we would like to only use locally sourced materials to contribute to our local economies.

Talk us through the creation of your products from concept to final products?

We draw inspiration from memory, natural surroundings and our cultures to create a design. Once the design is finalized, we figure out how it can be most efficiently produced locally. It’s not always as easy as reaching to artisans via cellphone to discuss the design so at times we have to make field trips. These can be short trips within the capital city, or trips to artisan’s workshops in neighbouring districts. The artisans we contact all work with local materials, specifically with locally sourced mohair and sometime wool from South Africa. If we are lucky, the sampling process goes smoothly and we can move onto rolling the product out.

How do you come up with the concepts behind your strikingly beautiful look books?

Because our designs are inspired by Basotho cultures we also like to incorporate the beauty of the natural landscape in our editorials. We are lucky that there is much to choose from here in Lesotho.

What would you say makes your brand ethos stand out from other sustainable homeware brands?

We design for the eco-conscious customer that desires homeware that is both beautiful and ethically produced. One of our central values is cultural continuity, which is why we ensure stories of Basotho cultures are told through our products. That’s sets us apart because our designs are made by Basotho and inspired by Basotho- we’re telling our own story.

What are the challenges of navigating the design space as two young black women based in Lesotho?

Because we are young, we are often undermined when we require services from older service providers. Where funding opportunities are concerned, it seems we are higher risk due to a perceived lack of experience. Being young Black women often means that we have to frequently explain that we are in fact working for ourselves and we do have ownership of our company.

Where do you hope to see your brand in 5 years time?

We see our brand branching out to have more different types of products, in addition to rugs and throws. This also includes us succeeding in our goal to build a workshop where we will be able to train our own young weavers.

For more information on the brand and where you can shop it visit their website here.

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A new range of rugs is the collaborative brainchild of iconic fashion designer Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho and well-loved local design brand Airloom.

The opportunity to fuse her aesthetic eye for fashion with home decor is something Palesa Mokubung describes as the realisation of a dream. The local fashion designer was the first African brand to partner with global retailer H&M in 2019 – a collaboration that cemented the footprint of her brand, Mantsho, firmly in the world of fashion.

Now, with Palesa’s keen eye for design guiding the way, Mantsho has moved into the decor realm in partnership with Airloom.

The collaboration is born out of mutual respect. “I chose to work with Airloom because they are the best at what they do,” says Palesa. “I also wanted to create accessible, quality lifestyle pieces – and Airloom caters to that.”

Rose Bradshaw of Airloom echoes this sentiment, and describes the joint venture as a marriage made in heaven. “We take delight in flipping the notion of traditional heirlooms and reinventing them in the form of modern Airlooms that are relevant to us all as South Africans,” she says.

The new collection of Mantsho Maze rugs is available in three colourways: Blush, Gold and Ocean. Each will add a bold and unique finishing touch to any space. They are the physical embodiment of a celebration of rich culture and bold design thinking, presenting a confident sense of presence in the here and now.

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South African rug gallery LUND has just released the Sculpt collection, a brand-new range of geometric rugs.

The Sculpt collection, which makes use of soft pastel colourways and monotone hues, is made up of three hand-knotted rugs that celebrate the geometric trend.

Each rug is hand-made in India, and features a range of shapes, from bold circles, semi-circles and squares to lines and the use of positive and negative space.

“There’s a lot to be said for the months of intricate hand-work that results in a LUND hand-knotted rug, thanks to careful blending and preparing of materials, masterful colour dyeing, patient hand carving and meticulous finishing,” says Russell.

For more information and to shop online, visit lundruggallery.co.za.

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Hand-woven in wool or cotton and sourced from all over the world, every rug in the latest Herringbone range tells a story.

Herringbone was started out of a desire to find beautiful dhurries and other flat-weave rugs, which have now become a staple of the brand‘s offering, among the wide variety of beautiful hand-made rugs they sell.

Initially serving a utilitarian purpose, flat-weave rugs have found a place in contemporary design, says co-owner Sarah Craig. “Our offering is a little different. We do follow trends, but foremost in our selection criteria is our passion for the culture, art and history of rug-making.”

The striking images featured here were captured on the Atlantis dunes in Cape Town. They belie the logistical manoeuvring required of the team, 4×4 driver and photographer, Karen Haacke. “We chose these rugs from our collection for the shoot, as we felt they would contrast beautifully against the stark landscape of the dunes and the early-morning light,” says Sarah.

“We went for bright colours and bold patterns to create this contrast against the simplicity of the untouched sand.”

For more information, visit herringbone.co.za.

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Portugal-based textile artist Vanessa Barragão uses leftover thread from the textile industry to create mesmerising tapestries and rugs inspired by the ocean and coral reefs.

For Vanessa, it’s important to combat the negative environmental impact of the textile industry, which makes use of chemicals and produces large amounts of waste, not only impacting the ocean, but increasingly threatened coral reefs. Using leftover stock from local factories, Vanessa employs techniques such as latch hooking, knitting, crocheting, felting and macramé to make her pieces.

Her latest project, entitled Coral Garden, is made up of one rug and two tapestries, and is directly influenced by the impact global warming is having on coral reefs.

Coral Garden

To view more of Vanessa’s work, visit vanessabarragao.com or follow her on Instagram.

(h/t) thisiscolossal.com

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RUGS & SUCH offers the largest collection of rug designs and ranges that are affordable, durable, and washable in any form. Accurate descriptions  and images are provided for each rug and design in terms of colour, material and thickness.

In fact, the RUGS & SUCH website has been designed to allow customers to search by criteria, namely by shape; colour; secondary colour; size; style; budget; and range.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for or aren’t sure of how your choice will look in your space, RUGS & SUCH will assist you in your search. Simply email a wide-angle picture of the room where you would like to put your rug of choice, and the brand will digitally insert the rug into the room to allow you to see the end result.

RUGS & SUCH also offers alterations. All pricing on the website is inclusive, and delivery to anywhere in South Africa is free.

RUGS & SUCH will be running a Black Friday special from 19 November – 25 November 2018 with savings on all rugs – keep up to date on Facebook. And if you’re looking for a festive gift idea, vouchers are also available for purchase. RUGS & SUCH will also be running a festive season special from 1 December 2018 to 18 January 2019 on all RUGS & SUCH original ranges, as well as Fotakis ranges. Any rug order within this category will get a discount of 20% for confirmed orders within this period.

For more information, visit rugsandsuch.co.za.

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