Coral Stephens Handweaving is a bespoke handweaving studio in Swaziland, which specialises in producing the finest hand-prepared and hand-woven textiles and carpets made from mohair, raffia, cotton and wool. 

Coral Stephens founded her business in Piggs Peak, Northern Swaziland in the 1940s. In this rural area she organised the purchase of mohair and trained spinners and weavers to produce unique fabrics. Through collaboration with designers her fabrics quickly achieved worldwide repute and the success continues today.

Production is for domestic, corporate and hospitality projects for the South African and international market. Products have a variety of applications – curtaining, carpets, upholstery, cushion covers, blankets and throws. Mohair curtaining is the cornerstone of the business however product range and materials have diversified and raffia curtaining as well as cotton are also popular. Mohair makes ideal curtaining and carpets and while it is soft, it is still durable and will last for decades. 

For more information, visit coralstephens.com or contact murrae@coralstephens.com

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Dutch brand SNURK has released a new collection of fun bedding for kids.

Made in Portugal, the collection features a range of whimsical patterns and prints, from ferocious sharks and cuddly teddies to arctic critters and mythical unicorns.

Each set is crafted from 100% cotton, guaranteeing a sound and comfortable night for your little one. All SNURK duvet covers are available in international single and double sizes.

We previously featured SNURK’s extensive collection for kids here, which included bunnies, horses and astronauts, all of which are still available.

For more information, visit snurk.nl.

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HAUS, the homeware offering from fabric brand Hertex, has added an array of luxurious bedding to its collection, all of which is available for purchase through its online store.

The latest additions include the 100% percale cotton, decadent 220-thread count Dreamscape bedding, featuring a delicate satin stitch and oxford pleat, in five different colourways.

Also new to the brand’s bedding collection is the Hinterland Bedding range, available in solid grey and a grey-and-white stripe in a cotton/linen chambray.

Dreamscape

All sets come in queen, king and super-king with two pillowcases included. Separate king-size pillowcases are also on offer.

HAUS also stocks a wide variety of throws, side tables, rugs, cushions and planters.

Visit hertexhaus.co.za for more information.

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Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto recently created a breathtaking large-scale installation – entitled GaiaMotherTree – in Zürich Main station in Switzerland, forming part of museum Fondation Beyeler’s public art programme.

“An artwork is a poem,” says Ernesto in the clip above. Despite the immense size of the work, for Ernesto it’s in fact all about intimacy.

The piece is made up of bright hand-knotted cotton strips (a total of 10 220 metres of cotton to be exact) that, once suspended and complete, looks like a towering tree. It took 27 people to complete the work over three months, which extended 20 metres high all the way to the station ceiling and functioned as a walk-in meeting space and venue for public meditation and interaction.

The intention behind the sculptural piece is to provide the viewer with an enjoyable experience. In Ernesto’s own words, “Take off your shoes and feel free to walk in, lie down, take a nap, dream.”

For more information about this piece, visit fondationbeyeler.ch.

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KwaZulu-Natal-based textile brand Phlo Studio has launched a range of linen for little ones, including cot duvets, cot fitted sheets and children’s duvet sets.

Each item is made from 100% cotton percale with a thread count of 200. The duvets, which are reversible, give you the chance to switch up the look of your child’s room by simply flipping the duvet over. Each duvet set comes with a matching pillowcase.

Both the fitted sheets and duvets feature a range of trendy prints, from grid-patterned designs and confetti to swans.

The cot duvets are also reversible and are available in a selection of cheery prints, including cloudy day, giraffe, paint splatter, swans, abstract polka dots and confetti, all with a different colour or print on the reverse side.

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

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Mungo’s latest colour palette, featuring five new colourways, is an ode to one of the brand’s most popular designs, the Juno Throw.

The new colour palette showcases the 100% cotton throw in charcoal, imperial (a purple hue), mustard, grey and French navy.

Featuring bold geometric designs, the Juno Throw, which is designed and woven at the Mungo Mill in Plettenberg Bay and is inspired by classic coverlet patterns, is perfect for the bedroom, lounge or cosying up while travelling.

The Juno Throw retails at R1 735 and is available in double-, queen- and king-size.

Shop online at mungo.co.za or visit the Mungo stores in Plettenberg Bay, Cape Town and Joburg.

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This informative video tells us the story behind the real colour blue, namely the growing and cultivation of plant-based indigo ink, which takes about a year to make.

The town of Tokushima in the south west of Japan has become known for its indigo production, with its roots cemented in Samurai culture. In fact, indigo started gaining popularity in the early 1600s.

“Under the samurai armour, there was indigo-dyed cloth,” says Osamu Nii, a sixth generation indigo plant grower, in the above clip. “The indigo-dyed cloth seemed to be good for wounds because it prevented bacteria and protected the wounds.”

Today, five farmers keep the tradition of growing indigo alive. Watch the above clip to find out exactly how this fascinating process works.

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Artist Cayce Zavaglia, who grew up in Australia, creates detailed embroidered artworks using cotton thread and wool.

In her pieces, she aims to capture the simple beauty of everyday life, ordinary people and their individual hidden stories.

“Over the years, I have developed a sewing technique that allows me to blend colours and establish tonalities that resemble the techniques used in classical oil painting,” she states on her website. “The direction in which the threads are sewn mimic the way brush marks are layered within a painting, which, in turn, allows for the allusion of depth, volume, and form.”

Cayce admits that she is unable to do a portrait of someone she doesn’t know. Instead, she chooses to embroider the faces of those she knows intimately. “I think there’s something about doing people that I know intimately that puts something into the portrait that I can’t put into words,” she shares in the clip.

View more of Cayce’s work at caycezavaglia.com.

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Twelve fabric and wallpaper houses share their insights on trends and covetable designs, as spotted at 100% Design South Africa.

Andrea Brand Designs

The trends: “Nature is brought into interiors via leafy greens, not only in actual leaf motifs but also in the rich green colour spectrum used in other designs. The warmer colours are coming in through warm pinks and peaches, and soft coral mixed with sienna tones.”

What I want in my home: “A ceramic piece by Andile Dyalvane. I love Margrethe Odgaard’s rug designs – she combines craftsmanship and quality with everyday functionality. And anything from MUUTO New Nordic – the combination of form and colour in their designs is a pleasure to the eye.” – Andrea Brand, Owner

T&Co Fabrics

The trends: “Oversized flowers, abstract black and white and oversized patterns.”

What I want in my home: “It would have to be the new locally designed and printed Botany and Mother-in-Law’s Tongues fabric designs from Mitchell & Santos; our new black-and-white Play on Shadows fabric collection, locally designed by Colette Angelucci and printed locally; and our local designs transferred to wallpaper.” – Tanya Sturgeon and her daughter Chloe, Owners

Home Fabrics

The trends: “We will see a lot of warm colours and natural stone combined with suede upholstery, and ’70s curved furniture, wicker, cordless lamps and black kitchens.”

What I want in my home: “The Designers Guild Eberson Platinum rug in tones of platinum and grey; Zimmer + Rohde scatters in Spice from the Talents collection with its shimmering Lurex threads; and Oculaire wallpaper from Arte, which is made out of sisal with cut-out elements that are inlaid by hand and glued to form a trompel’oeil effect.” – Marc Shotland, Sales and Marketing Director

The Silk & Cotton Co

The trends: “I think the most important trend for summer 2018 is an explosion of colour, and strong, oversized prints in bold colours. Warmer caramels, mochas and sand colours will start coming through in neutral colour schemes, and there will be lots of texture and surface detail on fabrics and wallpapers.”

What I want in my home: “I am in love with Abigail Borg’s wallpaper designs – I’m about to order some for my new house. I also love the fabulous colourful Trend velvets by Fabricut.” – Sally Ives, Owner

Dreamweaver Studios

The trends: “The use of saturated colour in interiors is an important trend. After so many seasons of neutrals and greys, it is exciting to see strong colour being used not only as accents but also now in feature walls and rugs.”

What I want in my home: “I can’t get enough of the Eijffinger Masterpiece collection, which honours flowers and art in its wonderful interpretation of the Dutch Masters paintings. I have always loved working and living with colour. The new Missoni Wallcoverings collection, which we have just launched, has great colour combinations.” – Haidee Kramer, Owner

Robin Sprong Wallpaper

The trends: “Aqua and shades of green and blue are going to be quite popular this summer. Wallpapers that are slightly textured and fish scale-like will be a must.”

What I want in my home: “Gorgeous fish scale tiles! I also want the tropical floral design by Room 13 that I have added to our selection. One can never go wrong with a tropical wallpaper when trying to create the ultimate summer feel within any space.” – Robin Sprong, Owner

Chapman Collection

The trends: “The return of wallpaper is one of the most important trends for summer 2018. Designers are bringing their ideas to walls. Size can be enlarged, the ’70s are back and exciting new designs are happening.”

What I want in my home: “For my studio, I’d like Bauhaus wallpaper. With its play on iconic chairs from the mid-century, it is well suited to offices, hotels and homes. I want an ottoman in Mechanical Horse fabric in White & Black from the Canine & Equine range. And from the Alphabet range I’d love to incorporate a wallpaper – the letter CC – in my guest loo.” – Sally Chapman, Owner

Carole Nevin Designs

The trends: “The impact of rampant consumerism on our planet is creating a new trend where people are seeking to buy product with soul, so everything that is artisanal and has a story is going to be even more sought-after. The colour green will continue to weave its way into our hearts, fashion and home as we yearn for a planet that is greener and healthier.”

What I want in my home: “I look to Africa for inspiration and I love using tribal patterns in my home.” – Carole Nevin, Owner

Lula Fabrics

The trends: “Trends on my radar include cerused wood finishes in shades of charcoal, natural grey and dark grey; real and faux leather hides; and marble, used both on surfaces and as a pattern in wallpapers and textiles. We can also look forward to seeing more jewel tones in wallpapers and fabrics. And velvet is very much the fabric of the season.”

What I want in my home: “I really want to use some of my new designs at home: Bukhara as curtaining; Sticks for upholstering a sofa; and a Timur in Summer chair.” – Melissa Kerkhoff , Creative Director

Halogen International

The trends: “Modern classics, be it in furniture, fabric or wallpaper, are in the limelight. Rich materials like velvet in beautiful modern colouring and gold and brass tones are trending. There is a strong emphasis on the splendour of interiors; people come home after a busy day and want to relax and feel comforted in a luxurious environment.”

What I want in my home: “I’d love a collection of Les Indiennes bed linen, table linen and scatter cushions, pictured above. The extensive collection of designs are all block-printed by hand in a tiny village in southern India. No two are the same.” – Gail Butler, Managing Director

Warwick Fabrics

The trends: “Following on from the current trend of mixing brighter colours with a base of greys, we will see a return to softer colour combinations and a more neutral palette.”

What I want in my home: “I am addicted to the super-soft feel of our Plush Velvet. This has been in our range for a few years, but we’ve just increased the colour line. My dream home wouldn’t be complete without fabrics from our glamorous T2 collection, which features unusual textures, sheers and metallic velvets. I also adore our range of outdoor fabrics in bright blue, cool grey and sunny yellow.” – Steve Downend, Fabric Designer

Fabcote Wallcoverings

The trends: “Black and white is really hot this season.”

What I want in my home: “I love everything by US wallcovering specialist Phillip Jeffries. This season, I am mad about the unique patterning and textures in the Alhambra collection; the Peña Palace collection, which takes its cue from the intricate tile work in Portugal’s most famous castle; and the Walls of Fez collection, which is reminiscent of ancient city walls with peeling paint.” – Oliver Back, Owner

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Made with soft merino wool and cotton warps, UK-based textile artist Elizabeth Pawle creates woven and embroidered wall hangings in pretty colours.

Having previously worked as an interiors journalist in the publishing industry, her creations became an outlet and creative release.

“My work is colourful, abstract and completely freeform,” says Elizabeth on her website. “I never look for inspiration, I just seem to collect it and it always arrives in the form of colour. I love combining colours to see how they work together and I endeavour to pair natural traditional materials with modern colours.”

Shop the collection at elizabethpawle.com.

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