Cape Town to come alive with over 100 stops on new Design Trail
It’s high time to explore the Mother City’s world-renowned and ever-dynamic creative community! Design is putting its best foot forward this June and inviting you to step out on the inaugural Cape Town Design Trail from 1-30 June 2021.
Over 100 participating designers, studios and brands will bring the entire month to life with a stimulating array of launches, exhibitions, presentations, talks and displays. The new trail gives participants one-on-one access to incredible showrooms and private maker spaces while raising the bar for the industry and involving the city as a whole.
Not-to-be-missed, the trail is presented by the Decorex Africa portfolio and is the first of its kind for the city. The array of stimulating sights and sounds allows Cape Town to cement its reputation as a creative capital, and a former World Design Capital. Cape Town is also the first city in Africa to be named a UNESCO City of Design – and the accolade is rightly deserved when you look at the exceptional calibre of its creative citizens.
To help you make sense of the massive variety and number of participants, the trail has been divided into a series of curated routes, each with its own theme. For example, if you are interested in art, you will be able to clearly follow the art route. Similarly, if you are in the process of renovating, you’ll be able to follow the route that clusters together suppliers such as fittings, tiles, mirrors, frameless glass, etc. And so on…
Some of the routes you’ll be able to cover on foot, others will require motorised transport to reach all the designated stops. You can drive or take an uber. All the curated routes will be available online, powered by mapmyway.co.za. There will be a separate map for each route, and each participant has its own geotag on the relevant map.
Whether you’re a professional architect, art collector or home owner with a new passion project, here are some of the stimulating routes to experience:
Local design
An entire firmament of the city’s design stars have come out for the trail. Haldane Martin and willowlamp, both renowned Cape Town-based studios, are two award-wining “veterans” of local design, having earned their stripes on both the local and international front over a period of two decades. Willowlamp is launching new wall sconces and throwing open its factory to the public throughout the month.
Other well-known local names to watch out for include Kirsten Goss, Bofred, Andrea Brand, Meyer von Wielligh and Kino. Clout SA and HUB will be launching to the public for the first time as part of the trail, hosting a stimulating showcase of all-new South African design including pieces by Joburg-based designers Thabisa Mjo and The Urbanative, who were voted Designers of the Year at 100% Design South Africa, as well as a new bench and light by the winner of the 2020 Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) talent search.
Major design nodes across the city form part of the trail, too. The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront (where you’ll find over 300 brands alone!), The Old Biscuit Mill in Salt River, The Woodstock Exchange and The Palms in Woodstock, and the Montebello Design Centre in Newlands, are all on-board. Each site is a nexus that brims with local artisans and brands that invite you to stay and explore.
art
Venerable art institutions, Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval Foundation are gearing up to greet trail guests, alongside individual artists, galleries and entities. Leading lights include the likes of sculptor Dylan Lewis, Spier Arts Trust, Eclectica Contemporary and Imiso Ceramics.
Imiso’s principal artists Andile Dyalvane and Zizipho Poswa are currently flying the flag high for South African ceramics. Dyalvane is currently hosting a solo at the Friedman Benda gallery in New York, while Poswa’s work has been acquired by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Famed local wine estate Spier is hosting a major art exhibition in its historic manor house entitled Occupants of the Inhabited, curated by Kefiloe Siwisa in collaboration with the Spier Arts Trust.
Tasteful pitstops
Designer boutique hotels such as Gorgeous George, Grand Daddy, The Silo by The Royal Portfolio, and Spier will provide dazzling watering holes along the way. Network at restaurants and bars where design business mixes beautifully with pleasure.
Highlights
One of the hotel highlights is that Decorex Africa, in conjunction with Grand Daddy, has invited interior designers to redecorate the interiors of the characterful Airstream caravans that are located on the roof of the hotel. A calling card for the hotel, this unusual hospitality solution can be booked by guests. Expects flights of fancy and imagination to be launched in a spectacular aerial/urban setting.
But the best thing about the new Cape Town Design Trail? It’s absolutely free to participate and all are welcome, all you need to do is register!
Register on www.decorex.co.za to receive a dedicated QR Code entrance ticket (at no cost) and links to download your guided maps to explore the various routes with unique access to promotions and product launches.
