WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Justin Patrick (Skinny laMinx); Supplied

From botanical prints to desert-washed palettes, these new local collections from Skinny laMinx, Fabric Bank and Hertex offer a nuanced reflection on our relationship with the natural world.

Flourish – the newest fabric and cushion collection from Skinny laMinx – is an ode to the natural world. “Flourish is a call to put aside futuristic dreams of Mars and AI, and to fall back in love with the beauty, wonder and delight that our interconnected planet offers us in abundance,” says designer Heather Moore. Available in three considered colourways, the blooming print features foliage, flowers and whimsical insect motifs. The designs are also available as wallpaper via Robin Sprong. | skinnylaminx.com

Fabric Brank’s new GOLD range, “Terra”, by fine artist Bevan de Wet, is a convergence between the natural world and structured elements. Through his work, the artist often explores the fragmented ways we experience nature in an increasingly digitised world. This delicate interplay between organic forms and constructed environments plays out across the six prints in this new fabric and wallpaper collection – each a quiet meditation on balance and disconnection. | fabricbank.co.za

Hertex’s Etosha collection draws inspiration from Africa’s primal wilderness – remote, untamed landscapes like the Skeleton Coast. Available in seven beautiful understated embroideries and embellished print designs, the collection’s warm, neutral desert palette is enhanced by teal accents, echoing the waters of the Okavango Delta. | hertex.co.za

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Hertex’s latest outdoor collection, Costa Brava by Studio H, was developed in conjunction with Belgian upholstery manufacturer Tessutica, and offers unparalleled European quality and style.

Tessutica is a leader in the production of the finest-quality upholstery fabrics and most innovative finishes in a sustainable and responsible fashion. Their two upholstery brands, Beaulieu Fabrics and Ray Fabrics, feature an exceptional diversity of designs that include on-trend colours as well as more elegant classic styles. Tessutica’s easy-care outdoor fabrics blend functionality with beauty. They are engineered to withstand all weather conditions, and because they are created from 100% polypropylene, they offer excellent health and safety advantages.

The Studio H Costa Brava collection has a heavily textured quality without having a “warm” appearance. The plains, action plains and two-tone jacquards that make up this collection offer highly sophisticated textures in neutral shades, ranging from Linen to Charcoal. All the designs, which are manufactured in the EU, offer the highest possible specifications for full outdoor living and are equally suited for indoor lounging.

Together, Tessutica and Hertex make stylish outdoor living easy.

Visit your nearest Hertex showroom or view online.

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Local artists Sarah Kelly, Elma Nelson, Felicity Ellis and Sharon Boonzaier reimagine the African wilderness’ sprawling indigenous flora and fauna in a uniquely South African follow-up fabric collection for Hertex, African Illustrators 2.

Each of the artists’ hand-drawn designs was transferred from canvas to cloth – specifically a luxurious viscose-linen base to give their renderings greater effect. The result? A range of intricate designs for every mood and space, ideal for styling scatters, headboards and more.

About the artists and their works

Artist Sarah Kelly finds daily inspiration in the African bushveld that surrounds the farm she lives on, and her contribution to the collection celebrates South Africa’s agricultural heritage. Route 62 presents familiar features of the Karoo in arresting detail, while Bella Montana’s lively lemons set against a white background lend an outdoor bistro feel and Winelands sees an iconic Cape harvest in full vigour. Contrasting the botanical-themed textiles are contemporary fabrics with a bold geometric element; a nod to the bird’s eye view of patterned farmlands and other landscapes.

Having grown up on a farm in KwaZulu-Natal, it was only natural for textile designer Felicity Ellis to bring her admiration for the resplendent local flora, her love of drawing and painting and her appreciation of the act of creating something from nothing to the collection. Avondale, Little Prince and Rainwashed were conceptualised during 2020 lockdown and speak of a deepened appreciation of nature. “Despite what humans are doing, Mother Nature continues to give freely. Through my designs, I hope to convey the beauty of nature’s bountiful generosity,” she says.

Artist and designer Elma Nelson’s affinity for the life-giving force of fire inspired Ignite, a trinity of colours and designs that tell the tale of “burning to bloom”. Here, the relationship between fynbos and fire is poignantly retold through brushstrokes. “The flames destroy fynbos but also begin a process of germination and the opportunity for new growth.” The three colourways in the range speak to phases in the lifecycle of fynbos: Veld Green is full of life, while fynbos in the midst of fire plays out in Flame, and Afterglow signals the rebirth from ash.

Artist and décor specialist Sharon Boonzaier uses her hallmark fresh colours and spontaneous fluidity in Peaches – a design inspired by summer escapes that disconnect to reconnect. “Everybody loves to bite into a juicy, delicious, sweet peach! It reminds me of lazy sun-kissed days at my best friend’s farm in the Cederberg, where peaches drip like manna from the trees and we’d gorge ourselves on fruit and good times. We’d swim in milky water and enjoy the aromas of hot coals and a sizzling braai under a giant eucalyptus tree. Those were good times – this particular artwork embodies all that is good about life and love in the countryside.”

Love this collection? Shop it here. Looking for more textile inspiration? Check out Stockholm-based illustrator and pattern designer Alexander Adiels‘ works here.

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Harlequin believes that our best interiors are created when they reflect who we are. Unreservedly and unapologetically. The stage is yours. 

#OWNTHEROOM is all about you. Your space, your style, your choice. It is this idea that has defined the Harlequin Colour I Collection. 

The 58 wallpapers and 75 fabrics of the Harlequin Colour I Collection are divided into four “looks” – Rewild, Renew, Retreat and Reflect, offering a personalised experience of design that is carefully curated to individual preferences. 

Claire Greenfield, head of design for Harlequin says, “This launch is about giving people the freedom to express their individuality in the home, by creating a look that suits their personality.”

Across modern damasks, statement florals and angular geometrics, featuring both new and bestselling creations, Harlequin puts the power of design squarely in your hands. 

Here’s a look at the collection:

REWILD

Appreciate the beauty of nature with invigorating, confident shades, brimming with life affirming energy.

An infusion of deep greens, pomegranate reds and terracotta tones warm and refresh our minds and our interiors.Vibrant designs, daring, uninhibited and joyous, unleash their patterned indulgence, filling our homes with layered bursts of glorious technicolour.

RENEW

Uplifting, regenerative and with a natural, light and airy glow.

Small movements of colour adorn tinted whites in a landscape inspired scheme that reaches from sea to sky. Elegant and ethereal, this calming look combines soft relaxing colours with subtly detailed design.

RETREAT

A tranquil palette of naturally elegant colour, Retreat’s adaptive looks are muted and chalky, with hints of metallics.

Soft botanical greens and Mediterranean pinks team with laidback shades inspired by the warmth of sun kissed living. Sharing an understated glamour across youthful and traditional schemes, this look creates personal hideaways that are calm, peaceful and timeless.

REFLECT

The perfect tonic to our fast- paced lives, obscured organic patterns and architectural influences layer alongside gentle textures to create a harmonious look that blends edgy angularity with transitional design.

Soft greys and smoky darks introduce a consistency across this dependable, modern palette.

To help you find the look that’s uniquely yours, Harlequin has pioneered the ‘Own The Room’ Quiz, an engaging questionnaire which suggests one of four ‘looks’ – Rewild, Renew, Retreat, Reflect – best suited to your personality. Backed by specially commissioned research by colour scientists from the University of Leeds, the Quiz also balances the physical and emotional benefits of colour in interior design. 

Visit your nearest Hertex showroom or view online.

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We’ve never felt the pull of wide-open spaces and bone-dry landscapes more strongly than right now. Recreate that sense of endless possibility with a minimal, earthy interior style inspired by the desert.

1. Made from kooboo cane and leather, and large enough to take an afternoon snooze in, this new sleeping pod/cosy nest by Cape Town-based designer Porky Hefer is the perfect addition to any hideaway. Pictured: Mud Dauber Sleeping Pod I by Porky Hefer (edition of two), POA, Southern Guild.

2. These mid-century classic chairs were conceived by Danish designer Børge Mogensen, and combine all-natural materials with thoughtful detailing. They’re still in production today at Danish manufacturers Fredericia Furniture. Find designs with a similar feel in SA at Weylandts and Homewood.

3. Casa Pask is theatre designer Scott Pask’s getaway home in Tucson, Arizona. Renovated by architect Graydon Yearick in the early 2010s, the house combines features of the area’s adobe-style buildings with a pared-back sensibility that makes it a perfect desert retreat. To recreate its interior look, combine textured, bag-plastered white walls with natural finishes and accents in black and brick red – to see more of the house, check out Living in the Desert (Phaidon, R885), in which it is featured. Packed with inspiration and featuring the sort of breathtaking visuals we all expect from design and art publishers Phaidon, Living in the Desert is the ideal coffee-table book to pore over while hunkered down in your very own desert hideaway.

4. Rugs are essential in a desert-inspired space, creating a luxurious feel underfoot while adding subtle elements of colour and texture. Pictured: Typhoon rug in Thunder, R12 000, HAUS.

5. Combine scatters with graphic patterns to create accents. Rough-textured, printed deep orange Turk cushion cover by Sixth Floor, R359, Superbalist and white-on-black twill appliqué scatter, R895, Weylandts.

6. Every desert retreat needs an artwork to inspire contemplation and a connection with the natural world, and this exquisite terracotta clay piece by acclaimed ceramicist Andile Dyalvane does just that. Pictured: Intshatshoba (Maize Stalk Flower), (one-off ), Southern Guild.

7. Add a few baskets for simple storage of firewood, throws, blankets or swimming towels. Pictured: Open Weave baskets, from R595 each, Weylandts.

8. Blending sleek lines with a textured woven seat and back, this laidback lounge chair will add an element of casual chic to any space. Pictured: Edison lounge chair, R7 995, Weylandts.

10. Texture and colour combine to evocative effect in this asymmetrical pure new wool rug by Charlotte Lancelot for Spanish manufacturers GAN. Pictured: Canevas Geo rug by Charlotte Lancelot for GAN, R39 500, Limeline.

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International wallpaper and fabric brand LIZZO has launched a new collection of wallpaper panels, designed by Elena Carozzi, that are now available exclusively at Hertex in South Africa.

This collection of bespoke wallpaper panels bridges the divide between art and decor. Drawing inspiration from nature and history, with subtle and calming imagery, this textural range was initially individually hand-painted by Elena.

The designs include Nespolo, Ventaglio, Foglie Di Vite and Wild Garden.

For availability and more information, visit hertex.co.za.

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The collection features two designs, namely classic leopard print and bold tropical imagery. Coba bags are available in three classical styles – arch bag, compact bag and office tote.

These iconic shapes combined with playful design make the Coba Collection as modern as it is timeless. This premium range is locally crafted from genuine leather and Hertex viscose linen.

The Coba Collection is now available at selected HAUS stores countrywide and online at hertexhaus.co.za.

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Adorn your dinner table with works of art conceptualised by the only South African Michelin-star chef.

Any foodie worth their salt knows of Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, chef-proprietor of JAN in Nice, France, who has returned to home soil to share his gastronomic talents. His latest venture, KLEIN JAN, will soon open at Tswalu Kalahari, the privately owned reserve that celebrates the authentic splendours of this region.

To mark this, in collaboration with Haus by Hertex Jan has developed a range of artisanal crockery that explores the theme “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. Wet clay plates, decorated with grass, are fired to burn away the grass and leave only delicate markings. They are then buried in the ground, covered in grass and burnt again, giving each piece a unique smoked pattern.

“It is in this weathering that we appreciate life the most,” says Jan. He has also developed a collection of tablecloths, tea towels and scatter cushions that explores the fragility of life – and eventual, inevitable decay. The range encompasses two prints: a design of dried vines and leaves, and a botanical/animal print.

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The Spring/Summer 2018 collection from HAUS, the homeware offering from fabric brand Hertex, is perfect for livening up your space this season.

This finely curated range consists of a variety of rugs and homeware, ideal for modern day-to-day living. The brand offers a selection of over 200 rugs, from classic options to contemporary designs.

The Bedroom Edition, previously featured here, includes bedroom accessories and decor, as well as 100% percale cotton linen.

HAUS has launched a new dinner range, made up of sophisticated stoneware. Handmade in South Africa, HAUS’s artisanal range features earthy-coloured stoneware made from black clay. There is also a new range of planters, hand-made glassware and side tables.

A selection of outdoor cushions and scatters will help you create a seamless indoor/outdoor flow.

For more information, visit hertexhaus.co.za.

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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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